GEOLOGY 002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Argumentum Ad Populum, Argumentum Ad Baculum, Ad Hominem
Document Summary
Fallacy (also non sequititr) is a defect in argument arising from a) mistake in reasoning b) creation of illusion making a bad argument appear good. An unsound or uncogent argument has 1 or more false premises or contains a fallacy (or both) Formal fallacy: only for deductive arguments; is identified by examining structure/argument form. Informal fallacy: only for inductive; detected by examining content. Arguments having premises that are logically irrelevant to the conclusion, though they might appear psychologically relevant. Appeal to force (argumentum ad baculum): telling reader/listener explicitly or implicitly that harm (physical or psychological) will follow if conclusion not accepted. Appeal to pity (argumentum ad misericordiam): arguer attempts supporting conclusion by evoking pity. Some arguments evoke sympathetic feelings and are not fallacious: arguments from compassion. The difference: arguments from compassion additionally supply information about why the person deserves special help/consideration (victim of circumstance, not responsible, etc. )
