Informal Logical Fallacies A Brief Guide

This is a systematic and concise introduction to more than forty fallacies, from anthropomorphism and argumentum ad baculum, to reductionism and the slippery slope argument. With helpful definitions, relevant examples, and thought-provoking exercises, the author guides the reader through the realms of fallacious reasoning and deceptive rhetoric.

Jacob E. Van Vleet teaches philosophy at Diablo Valley College in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Preface	p. vii
Introduction	p. ix
Linguistic Fallacies
Fallacy of division	p. 1
Fallacy of composition	p. 2
Vagueness	p. 2
Equivocation	p. 3
Weak analogy	p. 4
Pseudo-Profundity	p. 4
Fallacies of Omission
Bifurcation	p. 7
False dilemma	p. 8
Argumentum ad ignorantiam	p. 9
Shifting the burden of proof	p. 10
Straw argument	p. 10
Reductionism	p. 11
Perfectionist fallacy	p. 11
Fallacy of the unknowable fact	p. 12
Willed ignorance	p. 13
Fallacies of Intrusion
Argumentum ad hominem, abusive	p. 15
Argumentum ad hominem, circumstantial	p. 16
Argumentum ad hominem, post mortem	p. 16
Argumentum ad verecundiam	p. 17
Argumentum ad baculum	p. 18
Appeal to common knowledge	p. 18
Genetic fallacy	p. 19
Argumentum ad populum	p. 20
Appeal to tradition	p. 21
Tu quoque	p. 21
Two wrongs make a right	p. 22
Red herring	p. 22
Argumentum ad crumenam	p. 23
Argumentum ad misericordiam	p. 24
Fallacies with Built-In Assumptions
Petitio principii	p. 25
Complex question	p. 26
Appeal to human nature	p. 26
Is-Ought fallacy	p. 27
Projection	p. 28
Narcissist fallacy	p. 29
Anthropomorphism	p. 29
Subjectivist fallacy	p. 30
Causal Fallacies
Fallacy of the false cause	p. 33
Fallacy of the single cause	p. 34
Post hoc ergo propter hoc	p. 34
Slippery slope	p. 35
Gambler's fallacy	p. 36
Appeal to consequences	p. 37
Five Argument Forms	p. 39
Exercises	p. 45
Characteristics of Critical Thinking	p. 57
Glossary	p. 59
Recommended Reading	p. 65
Bibliography	p. 67
Index	p. 69
About the Author	p. 71
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Informal Logical Fallacies A Brief Guide

Summary

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Table of Contents

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