PHL 3305 Lecture 28

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Fallacies

Fallacies of Language

1. Equivocation: using the same word two different ways over the course of an argument
2. Amphiboly: Ambiguity in a statement
3. Composition: combining things in the conclusion that are not combined in the premise
4. Division: opposite of composition
5. Accent: pronouncing a word differently (more common in Greek)
6. Form of Expression: just because two words have similar prefix/suffix/base/spelling/sound/etc. doesn't mean that they have similar meanings

Fallacies Apart from Language

1. Accident: confusing what is accidental with something that is essential
2. Relative to Absolute: using relative context or particulars to arrive at an absolute universal conclusion
3. Ignoring the Issue: refuting a point that is not the point at issue
   1. ad hominem: attack the person holding a position rather than the position itself
   2. ad baculum: using psychological or physical means to intimidate opponent
   3. ad populum: illicit appeal to passions and prejudices of audience
4. Begging the Question: somehow presupposing the conclusion in order to win an argument (circular argument)
5. False Cause: assuming a cause/effect relationship when there isn't one
6. Consequent: invalid use of conditional (if/then) statement (not modus ponens or modus tollens)
   1. affirming the consequent
   2. denying the antecedent
7. Complex Question: asking a question that seeks to trap someone (e.g., "Have you stopped beating your wife?")

Aristotle. Physics

Goals:

principles

causes

formal, efficient, material, final

elements

material cause that makes up something

• "natural way" to learn new things: from what we know to things that are knowable (to God)
  • implies that man is not the measure of knowledge
• We'll start with the whole and then study its constituent parts

Next Time

Physics I.5–7