Philosophy Informal Logic Questions Long
The main types of informal fallacies based on coherence are the fallacies of relevance and the fallacies of presumption.
1. Fallacies of Relevance: These fallacies occur when the premises presented in an argument are not relevant to the conclusion being drawn. In other words, the evidence or reasons provided do not logically support the conclusion. There are several subtypes of fallacies of relevance:
a) Ad Hominem: This fallacy involves attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself. It is a diversionary tactic that attempts to discredit the person's character or personal traits instead of engaging with the substance of their argument.
b) Appeal to Authority: This fallacy occurs when someone relies on the opinion or testimony of an authority figure, such as a celebrity or an expert, without providing sufficient evidence or logical reasoning to support their claim. The authority's expertise may not be relevant to the specific topic at hand.
c) Appeal to Emotion: This fallacy appeals to the emotions of the audience rather than presenting logical reasons or evidence. It attempts to manipulate emotions, such as fear, pity, or anger, to sway the audience's opinion without providing a rational argument.
d) Red Herring: This fallacy involves diverting attention from the main issue by introducing an unrelated or irrelevant topic. It is a tactic used to distract the audience from the original argument and steer the discussion in a different direction.
2. Fallacies of Presumption: These fallacies occur when the premises of an argument assume something that has not been proven or is not necessarily true. They rely on unwarranted assumptions or presuppositions. There are several subtypes of fallacies of presumption:
a) Begging the Question: This fallacy occurs when the conclusion of an argument is assumed in one of the premises. It is a circular reasoning where the argument relies on the truth of the conclusion to support the premises, which in turn support the conclusion.
b) False Dilemma: This fallacy presents a limited number of options as if they were the only possibilities, ignoring other potential alternatives. It creates a false dichotomy, forcing the audience to choose between two extremes when there may be other valid options.
c) Hasty Generalization: This fallacy involves drawing a broad conclusion based on insufficient or limited evidence. It occurs when a general statement is made about a whole group or category based on a small sample size or biased selection.
d) Slippery Slope: This fallacy suggests that a particular action or event will inevitably lead to a series of increasingly negative consequences, without providing sufficient evidence to support this causal chain. It assumes that one small step will result in a drastic and negative outcome.
In conclusion, the main types of informal fallacies based on coherence are the fallacies of relevance and the fallacies of presumption. Fallacies of relevance involve presenting irrelevant information or diverting attention from the main argument, while fallacies of presumption rely on unwarranted assumptions or presuppositions. It is important to recognize and avoid these fallacies in order to construct and evaluate logical arguments effectively.