Philosophy Informal Logic Questions Long
The main types of informal fallacies based on sufficiency are known as fallacies of insufficient evidence and fallacies of excessive evidence. These fallacies occur when the evidence provided in an argument is either insufficient or excessive to support the conclusion being made.
1. Fallacies of Insufficient Evidence:
These fallacies occur when the evidence presented in an argument is not enough to establish the truth or probability of the conclusion. There are several subtypes of fallacies of insufficient evidence:
a) Hasty Generalization: This fallacy occurs when a conclusion is drawn based on insufficient or limited evidence. It involves making a generalization about a whole group or population based on a small sample size.
b) Anecdotal Fallacy: This fallacy involves using personal anecdotes or isolated examples as evidence to support a general claim. It disregards the need for more comprehensive and representative evidence.
c) Appeal to Ignorance: This fallacy occurs when a lack of evidence is used as evidence itself. It argues that because something has not been proven false, it must be true, or vice versa.
d) False Cause: This fallacy assumes a cause-and-effect relationship between two events without sufficient evidence. It mistakenly concludes that one event caused the other, without considering other possible explanations.
2. Fallacies of Excessive Evidence:
These fallacies occur when an argument provides an overwhelming amount of evidence that is not necessary or relevant to support the conclusion. There are two common types of fallacies of excessive evidence:
a) Argument from Authority: This fallacy relies on the testimony or opinion of an authority figure to support a claim, without considering whether the authority is truly knowledgeable or credible in the specific field.
b) Argument from Popularity: This fallacy assumes that a claim is true or valid simply because many people believe it or because it is widely accepted. It disregards the need for logical reasoning and evidence.
It is important to recognize and avoid these fallacies as they can weaken the strength of an argument and lead to faulty conclusions. By understanding the types of informal fallacies based on sufficiency, one can critically evaluate arguments and engage in more rational and logical thinking.