Definition Review Diversion and Distortion Tactics Logical Fallacies Definition Review Diversion and Distortion Tactics

1) Definition: Latin “To the pity of the heart” A person substitutes a claim based on reason and evidence with comments intended to generate pity.

2) Definition: A conclusion based on too small a sampling (subset of a larger population) to draw a valid conclusion about the general population. The evidence from the random sample may be relevant, but there is not enough evidence to support a conclusion about the general population.

3) Definition: The number of positions or alternatives regarding an issue is erroneously reduced to two opposing choices when more possibilities exist.

4) Definition: Latin for “You’re another.” Responding to an accusation of wrongdoing with a counter-accusation. The accused person claims the person making the accusation or someone else has done the same thing.

5) Definition: Misrepresenting an opponent’s position so it is easier to attack & discredit. One creates the illusion of having refuted a proposition by replacing the opponent’s proposition with a superficially similar yet unequivalent proposition, and refuting this misrepresentation rather than the opponent’s original position.

6) Definition: Introducing irrelevant information or sidetracking an argument to a different issue than the issue in question. As a result, the original issue does not get resolved.

7) Definition: Presenting only the facts in your favor while purposely ignoring or omitting evidence against your position While it doesn’t falsify information, it distorts the issue by intentionally presenting only one side of a complex argument. Also known as Suppressing Evidence

8) Definition: Latin “argument at the man.” Attacking the person argued against instead of his or her arguments, for example attacking his or her personal characteristics, gender, age, marital status, origins, economic status, religious beliefs, or home life, etc.

9) Definition: Offering a comparison of two dissimilar situations that have a superficial similarity and using this superficial similarity as proof to draw a conclusion. If two things are alike in some respects, it does not follow that they must be alike in all respects.

10) Definition: Prejudicing an audience’s view of material before it is presented.

Answers

1) Definition: Latin “To the pity of the heart” A person substitutes a claim based on reason and evidence with comments intended to generate pity.

Ad Misericordiam

2) Definition: A conclusion based on too small a sampling (subset of a larger population) to draw a valid conclusion about the general population. The evidence from the random sample may be relevant, but there is not enough evidence to support a conclusion about the general population.

Hasty Generalization

3) Definition: The number of positions or alternatives regarding an issue is erroneously reduced to two opposing choices when more possibilities exist.

False Dilemma

4) Definition: Latin for “You’re another.” Responding to an accusation of wrongdoing with a counter-accusation. The accused person claims the person making the accusation or someone else has done the same thing.

Tu Quoque

5) Definition: Misrepresenting an opponent’s position so it is easier to attack & discredit. One creates the illusion of having refuted a proposition by replacing the opponent’s proposition with a superficially similar yet unequivalent proposition, and refuting this misrepresentation rather than the opponent’s original position.

Straw Man

6) Definition: Introducing irrelevant information or sidetracking an argument to a different issue than the issue in question. As a result, the original issue does not get resolved.

Who’s da louse that called me “irrelevant”? Red Herring Who’s da louse that called me “irrelevant”?

7) Definition: Presenting only the facts in your favor while purposely ignoring or omitting evidence against your position While it doesn’t falsify information, it distorts the issue by intentionally presenting only one side of a complex argument. Also known as Suppressing Evidence

Stacking the Deck

8) Definition: Latin “argument at the man.” Attacking the person argued against instead of his or her arguments, for example attacking his or her personal characteristics, gender, age, marital status, origins, economic status, religious beliefs, or home life, etc.

Argumentum ad hominem

9) Definition: Offering a comparison of two dissimilar situations that have a superficial similarity and using this superficial similarity as proof to draw a conclusion. If two things are alike in some respects, it does not follow that they must be alike in all respects.

Analogy There’s no need to worry about your breakup. Men are like fish…

10) Definition: Prejudicing an audience’s view of material before it is presented.

Poisoning the Well