Classical Stuff You Should Know

14: Logical Fallacies, Part Deux

17 snips
Dec 5, 2017
They continue a tour of logical fallacies, focusing on ambiguity and formal errors. Topics include equivocation, amphiboly, and how emphasis changes meaning. They cover loaded questions, No True Scotsman moves, circular reasoning, and post hoc versus correlation errors. Also discussed: false dilemmas, slippery slopes, hasty generalizations, and when to call out fallacies politely.
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INSIGHT

Emphasis Can Alter A Statement's Sense

  • Accent fallacy changes meaning by stressing different words in the same sentence.
  • A.J. Hanenberg demonstrates how emphasis on each word in 'We should not steal our neighbor's car' yields many interpretations.
ADVICE

Don't Fall For Loaded Questions

  • Recognize loaded questions and refuse trapped binary answers.
  • Follow Obama's example: identify the trap and present the correct third option or clarify the premise.
INSIGHT

Excluding Exceptions To Preserve Labels

  • 'No True Scotsman' dismisses counterexamples without justification to preserve sweeping labels.
  • A.J. Hanenberg warns this fallacy polices group identity by excluding inconvenient exceptions.
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