ENTRY 4
Argument
Structures and Fallacies
Item 1:
Bob Murch, spirit board collector: "There's been
thousands of years of accounts of ghosts and hauntings, and if those are true,
you know, surely a spirit board can work."
Penn Jillette: "So, if those aren't true, a spirit board can't work? Cool!"
Penn Jillette: "So, if those aren't true, a spirit board can't work? Cool!"
Source: Penn & Teller, "Ouija Boards/Near Death
Experiences", B.S.!
è Logical fallacy (Structure)
- If accounts of ghosts
and haunting are true, a spirit board can work.
- The
accounts of ghosts and haunting aren’t true
- A spirit board can't work.
à 1. If accounts of ghosts and
haunting are true, a spirit board can work.
2. A spirit board can't work
3. The accounts of ghosts and haunting aren’t true
Item 2:
è Fallacies of presumption (Hasty
generalization): False premise
- All
cats have four legs.
- I have four legs.
- Therefore, I am a cat.
à 1. All cats
have four legs.
2. I
am a cat.
3. Therefore, I have four legs.
Item 3:
“Either You Are With Us,
Or You Are With The Terrorists” (President
George W. Bush)
èFalse dilemma: there are not
only 2 choices, in fact, you can be neutral (False premise).
in item 2 you should specify that this argument has structual fallacy
ReplyDeleteAll cats have four legs. (all S is P)
I have four legs. (a is P)
Therefore, I am a cat. (a is S)
this argument is invalid
I think the fallacy in item 2 is Structure fallacy, not the content fallacy
ReplyDeleteTuong Vi
I agree with both of Dung and Vi. Beside that, i think you should figure out what structure is true or false. And item 3 was an example used in class :S
ReplyDeletein item 1, you should put more detail about the structure fallacies:
ReplyDelete1. If accounts of ghosts and haunting are true, a spirit board can work. (If A, then B)
2. The accounts of ghosts and haunting aren’t true (not A)
3. A spirit board can't work. (not B)
the true structure is: If A, then B
not B
Not A.
I think the first premise isn't proved, so it is valid but unsound.
Tks for your comments. In my opinion:
ReplyDelete- In item 2, it also has fallacies of presumption (Hasty generalization)beside structural fallacy. Because, the dog jumped to conclusion that he is a cat. He only looked at the number of his legs. Based on his logic, he is also a giraffe or any animals with 4 legs.
- In item 3, it is similar to example in class, not used.
in item 1, I think it is circular argument
ReplyDelete