THE BIG LIST OF FALLACIOUS ARGUMENT-LIKE DEVICES (FALDs)
2015-2018 Lawrence Udell Fike, Jr.
These devices sometimes but not always, appear as arguments. By saying sometimes, we have more liberty in locating these devices in persuasive pieces of verbiage even when no apparent argument is present. After all, they all rightly fall into the category of pseudoreasoning, since none of these devices are actually good examples of how to use your critical mind to engage another critical mind on a regular basis. They may work fine to prey on another persons lack of critical thinking skills, but they do not appeal to their own critical thinking abilities. In fact, they do something very different: they commonly distract people from the very possibility of approaching a claim, or the appeal that a claim may be pointing to (the pseudo-conclusion), in a critical fashion.
The foregoing claims are usually but not always true; the exceptions occur when both parties to the conversation are familiar with the FALDs that are used. Then the use of FALDs can be both informational and humorous. Recognizing that a FALD is a FALD, is our principal goal; our goal is not to completely eliminate use of them or to hammer those we catch using them. To recognize a FALD is to be master over its use or non-use, acceptance or non-acceptance. In every case in which a FALD is used, there is always a way of expressing the same conclusion, or advocating the same course of action, that does not involve the use of the FALD.
In some cases, I have included an Internet hyperlink that you can click on to learn more. can be of help in many instances. may or may not be helpful in getting you started. Also, of course, if youve purchased a critical thinking textbook, that will help.
Fallacy Type Classification: You will only need to remember the difference between formal fallacies and informal fallacies: a., b., and c. are all varieties of informal fallacies.
a. Fallacies of no evidence = FNE (Textbook term: Irrelevant Premises)
b. Fallacies of little evidence = FLE (Textbook term: Unacceptable Premises)
c. Fallacies of language = FL (Textbook term: Rhetorical Moves)
d. Formal fallacies = FF (These fallacies are due to the pattern of reasoning used. They are marked with FF in the list below. Most of the items on our list are informal fallacies.)
Our treatment of all of these and the many more that you can find on the Internet! will be selective, but this constitutes our required list . So, this is the Big List, and your ASSIGNMENT is to:
1. State what each FALD is (e.g., answer the question, What is a circumstantial ad hominem fallacy?);
2. Give a clear example of each;
3. Add a clear explanation of how the FALD gets used, making sure that your explanation is clear enough so that it separates the particular FALD you are writing about from all other FALDS that may otherwise resemble it;
4. Refrain from using any of my words or examples that you may come across in subsequent exam preparation and classroom presentation copies of this list;
5. You are free to use other peoples examples (although I prefer fresh examples), but when you do so, you must include a citation, preferably embedded within the text as opposed to printing the entire URL.
6. Change the header information so that it accurately reflects that it is your work.
7. Re-name your file appropriately and delete these instructions and introductory comments before you submit your assignment on Canvas.
8. Sign or type on the document on the lines at the end of this assignment;
9. Submit to me online through Canvas any time up until the due date.
I am putting this list online as an editable MS Word document to save you some work. You can simply add to this outline on your own word processor if you wish. Be sure to delete all of these introductory comments before you submit your own file to me (see 7 above).
I have completed item #4 below as an example of how you are to respond to each item follow my format, please.
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EXHIBIT LIST: 45 VERY COMMON FALDS
As you can see, I have inserted a lot of links. Please utilize these as you see fit. Some lead to articles; others, to videos (mostly from YouTube); and others lead to specific pages that I think may be helpful. I will have a few things to say about a number of these, but my comments will be added elsewhere. -Mr. Fike
1. Ad hominem
a.
b. (pronounced, two kwo-KAY)
c. Personal attack ad hominem
2. – FF
3.
4.
What it is: This is an attempt to justify an action or a practice (rather than a claim) by claiming that the action or practice is common. Caution: This may be a roundabout way of requesting fair play, in which case the person has bypassed the issue of what constitutes fairness (since thats difficult to answer!) and has certainly in some instances circumvented the law or an established policy. The point is that even if it is true that lots of people do something, this fact by itself is not a sufficient reason to engage in their practice. Nazism and racism are obvious examples of things lots of people do, or have, engaged in, but that doesnt justify the behavior. Example: Everybody comes in late once in a while, so Im not going to worry when I walk into class fifteen minutes late today.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9. (Appeal to Pity, ad misericordiam)
10. (petition principii)
11. – FF
12.
13.
14.
15. Downplayer (supposed merely, so-called)
16. Dysphemism
17.
18. (Video contains one expletive near end.)
19. (false alternatives)
20. Faulty analogy
21.
22. Guilt trip
23. Hasty generalization
24. Horse laugh (or, Appeal to Ridicule, Appeal to Mockery)
25. Hyperbole
26. Innuendo
27. Line-drawing (or, Decision-point)
28.
29. Mathematical comparison
30. Non causa pro causa (non-cause for cause)
31.
32. Poisoning the well (variant: Sweetening the well)
33. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc
34. Proof surrogate (studies show, as is commonly understood, as has been proved)
35.
36.
37. Slippery Slope
38.
39. Stereotype
40. (Straw Man, Scarecrow Argument)
41. Two wrongs make a right
42. – FF
43. Visual image persuasion a photograph or other image is never an argument.
44. Weaseler (basically, essentially, may have, may be, could imply)
45.
I certify by typing my name below that the writing I am submitting on this assignment is my own.
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STUDENT NAME TYPED OR HAND-WRITTEN ABOVE BY STUDENT SUBMITTING THIS PAPER
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CLASS MEETING TIME, COLLEGE AND COURSE NUMBER
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