Why avoid fallacies

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My Preferences My Reading List. In this example, a sample size of three is way too small to generalize about the effectiveness of green tea—not to mention that patients' self-reports do not always make the most reliable data! Sweeping generalizations are related to the problem of hasty generalizations. In the former, though, the error consists in assuming that a particular conclusion drawn from a particular situation and context applies to all situations and contexts.

For example, if I research a particular problem at a private performing arts high school in a rural community, I need to be careful not to assume that my findings will be generalizable to all high schools, including public high schools in an inner city setting. Non sequitur is a Latin term that means "does not follow," and the fallacy occurs when no true logical especially cause-effect relationship exists between two notions.

Example: Professor Berger has published numerous articles in immunology. Therefore, she is an expert in complementary medicine. Notice, in this example, that there is no necessary relationship between knowledge of immunology on the one hand and expertise in complementary medicine on the other. It does not follow that Dr. Berger will be an expert in both areas. Post hoc ergo propter hoc , another Latin term, means "after this; therefore, because of this.

Just because x follows y in time, though, does not mean that y caused x. Therefore, NCLB is causing kids to drop out. Although it may be true NCLB is contributing to drop outs, this cannot be concluded by the chronology of events alone.

Correlation is not causation, so the cause-effect connection would have to be proven. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

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Thumbs Up. Enroll for Free Starts Nov Offered By. About this Course 10, recent views. Flexible deadlines. Shareable Certificate. Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking Specialization. Beginner Level. Hours to complete.

Available languages. Instructor rating. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong Professor Philosophy. Ram Neta Professor Philosophy. Offered by. Duke University Duke University has about 13, undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. Week 1. Video 1 video. Introduction to the Specialization 4m. Reading 1 reading. Course Logistics Start Here 10m. Video 9 videos. Introduction to Fallacies 6m. Argument from the Heap 7m.

Conceptual Slippery Slopes 6m. Your audience will appreciate your thoughtful consideration of more than one view, your understanding of the complexity, and you will build your ethos, or credibility, as you present your document. Be careful not to stretch the facts, or assemble them only to prove yourself, and instead prove the argument on its own merits. Deception, coercion, intentional bias, manipulation and bribery should have no place in your speech to persuade.

Fallacies are another way of saying false logic. These tricks deceive your audience with their style, drama, or pattern, but add little to your speech in terms of substance and can actually detract from your effectiveness. In Table 8. Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue, particularly by relating the issue to a common fear. A weak argument set up to be easily refuted, distracting attention from stronger arguments.

What if we released criminals who commit murder after just a few years of rehabilitation? Think of how unsafe our streets would be then! Claiming the truth of the very matter in question, as if it were already an obvious conclusion. We know that they will be released and unleashed on society to repeat their crimes again and again. The proposition is used to prove itself. Assumes the very thing it aims to prove. Related to begging the question.