Chapter 5: Glossary
This glossary follows the organization of the textbook and other areas of this Web site and contains short definitions for all the important terms and concepts from the chapter. You will also find hyperlinks to Websites relevant to the study of these terms and concepts. You should employ good critical thinking when evaluating the merit of any information you find on the World Wide Web, including what you find by following these links.
Irrelevance. In cases of pseudoreasoning, the failure of a motivation to justify one's believing a given claim or acting in a given way. The feelings or other motives appealed to in pseudoreasoning are not necessarily illegitimate feelings. Therefore, to call the feeling invoked irrelevant is not to claim that a person shouldn't have it. The point is rather that the motivation does not bear on the truth of the claim in question.
Pseudoreasoning. Alleged support given for a claim that does not in fact support it, whether because the reasons given are irrelevant to the claim's truth, or because something has gone wrong with the structure of the argument.
Subjectivist fallacy. This occurs with one seeks to dismiss someone else's claim by turning all disagreement into differences of opinion.
Appeal to belief. This sort of pseudoreasoning makes other people's acceptance of a view a reason for accepting the view as correct.
Wishful thinking. When this type of pseudoreasoning is used, someone accepts a claim because they want it to be true.
Appeal to fear. This sort of pseudoreasoning attempts to use someone's fear as a reason to accept a claim. Remember that this is only pseudoreasoning when the fear is irrelevant to the truth of the claim.
Appeal to pity. This sort of pseudoreasoning attempts to use someone's pity as a reason to accept a claim. Remember that this is only pseudoreasoning when the pity is irrelevant to the truth of the claim.
Appeal to anger or indignation. This sort of pseudoreasoning attempts to obscure the relevant issues by arousing one's anger, particularly at some person or group.
Two wrongs make a right. This is a kind of pseudoreasoning where someone justifies some action that hurts another person on the grounds that the other person has done (or is likely to do) the same kind or harm.
Pseudoreasoning Web Links:
- Legal Reasoning: Using the Central Concepts of Basic Logic: Extensive discussion of the topic.
- SoYouWanna avoid common logical errors?: Informative, easy to read article about the different types of errors in logic.
- The Atheism Web: Logic & Fallacies: Article on the Atheism Web that states in its introduction "[t]here's a lot of debate on the net. Unfortunately, much of it is of very low quality. The aim of this document is to explain the basics of logical reasoning, and hopefully improve the overall quality of debate."
- The Logical Fallacies: Table of Contents: Stephen Downes' Guide to the Logical Fallacies, comprehensive and easy to use.
- Logical Argument Construction: In the context of discussing how to construct a logical argument, this site has a good list of fallacies and their explanations and examples.
- A list of logical fallacies: Just that, a list with descriptions and examples.
- Brian Yoder's Fallacy Zoo: Brian says of his site, "In my various debates on the net and otherwise, I find that a great portion of the time when I accuse an opponent of fallacious reasoning he is either entirely unfamiliar with the fallacy I mention, isn't thoroughly convinced the fallacy is a bad thing, or thinks he knows what the fallacy is but is mistaken...So to fight this kind of thing I have captured here for your enjoyment and edification a fine collection of classic fallacies known for their error throughout the ages."
- Fallacies: Very easy to use, extensive listing of fallacies, including examples and a general introduction to the subject, written by Dr. Michael C. Labossiere and hosted at the Nizkor site.
- Mission: Critical Main Menu (Arguments and Fallacies)
