Fallacy
Fallacy
Fallacy (/fæləsi/) is a term used in logic to describe an argument that uses faulty reasoning. The word originates from the Latin term "fallacia", which means "deception".
Definition
A fallacy is a deceptive or misleading argument, a sophism. In philosophy, a formal fallacy is a pattern of reasoning that is always wrong. This is due to a flaw in the logical structure of the argument which renders the argument invalid. A fallacy can also be an informal fallacy, which is an argument whose stated premises fail to support its proposed conclusion.
Types of Fallacies
There are several types of fallacies that are commonly recognized in logic and rhetoric, including:
- Ad hominem: This is a fallacy that involves a personal attack: the attempt to discredit the argument by discrediting the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, rather than attacking the argument directly.
- Straw man: This fallacy occurs when a person simply ignores a person's actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position.
- Red herring: This is a fallacy in which an irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue.
- Appeal to authority: This fallacy happens when an assertion is deemed true because of the position or authority of the person asserting it.
Related Terms
- Argument: A statement or series of statements for or against something.
- Logic: The study of the principles of reasoning, especially of the structure of propositions as distinguished from their content and of method and validity in deductive reasoning.
- Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fallacy
- Wikipedia's article - Fallacy
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