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54 Fallacies (Atheism - Constructing a Logical Argument)




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This article is from the Atheism FAQ, by mathew meta@pobox.com with numerous contributions by others.

54 Fallacies (Atheism - Constructing a Logical Argument)

To delve further into the structure of logical arguments would need
lengthy discussion of linguistics and philosophy. It's simpler -- and
probably more useful -- to summarize some major pitfalls you should
avoid when constructing an argument. These pitfalls are known as
fallacies.

In everyday English the word "fallacy" is used to refer to mistaken
beliefs, as well as to the faulty reasoning that leads to those
beliefs. In logic, the term is generally used for a form of
technically incorrect argument -- especially if the argument appears
valid or convincing.

So for the purposes of this discussion, a fallacy is a logical
argument which looks correct, but which can be seen to be incorrect
when examined more carefully. If you learn to recognize fallacies,
hopefully you'll be able to avoid being misled by them.

Below is a list of some common fallacies, and also some rhetorical
devices often used in debate. The list isn't intended to be
exhaustive. The Niktor Project at < http://www.almanac.bc.ca/> has
another excellent list of logical fallacies.

Sadly, many of the examples below have been taken directly from
Usenet, though some have been rephrased for the sake of clarity.

_________________________________________________________________

List of fallacies

* Anecdotal evidence
* Argumentum ad baculum / Appeal to force
* Argumentum ad hominem
* Argumentum ad ignorantiam
* Argumentum ad misericordiam
* Argumentum ad populum
* Argumentum ad numerum
* Argumentum ad verecundiam
* Argumentum ad antiquitatem
* Argumentum ad novitatem
* Argumentum ad crumenam
* Argumentum ad lazarum
* Argumentum ad nauseam
* The fallacy of accident / Sweeping generalization / Dicto
simpliciter
* Converse accident / Hasty generalization
* Non causa pro causa
* Post hoc ergo propter hoc
* Cum hoc ergo propter hoc
* Petitio principii / Begging the question
* Circulus in demonstrando
* Complex question / Fallacy of interrogation / Fallacy of
presupposition
* Ignoratio elenchi / Irrelevant conclusion
* Equivocation / Fallacy of four terms
* Amphiboly
* Accent
* Fallacies of composition
* Fallacy of division
* The slippery slope argument
* "A is based on B" fallacies / "...is a type of..." fallacies /
Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle
* Affirmation of the consequent
* Denial of the antecedent
* Converting a conditional
* Bifurcation
* Plurium interrogationum / Many questions
* Non sequitur
* Red herring
* Reification / Hypostatization
* Shifting the burden of proof
* Straw man
* The extended analogy
* Tu quoque
* Audiatur et altera pars
* Ad hoc
* Argumentum ad logicam
* The "No True Scotsman..." fallacy

 

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