15 logical errors in our thinking

The false inference - an argument that in an attempt to anybody in anything convincing based on the wrong premise. All of us periodically to prevent similar logical errors, so in our best interest to learn how to recognize them. The site lists the fifteen most common false logic vyvodov.



1. Ad hominem (Latin. "To the person»)
Example. "Doctors Meydapa caught in adultery, so do not listen to the advice of his medical».

Personal qualities of the person may be referred to in the debate, but only if the discussion is related to them directly.

Ad hominem arguments are always fun to look, as argued, using them like a child irritable.

2. Tu quoque (lat. "And you, too,»)
Example: "I may be a thief, but you - a gambler».

In fact, this particular case the argument ad hominem, and it is based on the principle of moral superiority. It appeals to our sense of decency. Indeed, if our prosecutors have flaws, then why should we believe him?

3. Ad populum (Lat., "To the people»)
4. The appeal to tradition.
Example. "Slavery existed for much of human history, so I urgently need to make a few slaves to care for my garden».

High mortality from infectious diseases, too, has long been part of human history. However, we now have antibiotics.

5. Ipse dixit (Lat., "He said,»)
Example. "He has a medical degree, and he recommends taking these drugs." Such an argument is well founded.

But statements like, "He's a doctor, and he says that God exists, because he saw his face in the sky" - it is simply an attempt to give a semblance of respectability is completely groundless statement.

6. A false dichotomy,
Example. "Either you enter a complete ban on pornography, or you want your children it looked».

On the basis of this argument we often hear politicians meet his interviewers: "I reject this statement of your question».

7. Post hoc ergo procter hoc (lat. "Then - then, because of this").
Example. "I was in those pants when taking the exam. I passed the exam in the top five. Consequently, these pants to help me get to the five exams ».

The fact that some thing has got in some sequence of events that may not prove a direct link of this thing with the end result of a sequence.

8. Generalization,
Example. "Politician deceived us, speaking of spending, therefore, all policies - crooks».

This spread the blame on an entire group of people in a situation where you need to prove the guilt of the individual. Probably do not need to explain why this argument is fallacious. Nevertheless, the phenomenon of racism, suggesting that synthesis, with all its fallibility, can be very effective.

9. "Straw man»
Example: "My opponent wants to send to the scrap submarine" Trident ". He wants to leave us, even without such protection ».

Since very few people are in favor of complete disarmament, your opponent look weak. People like to look at the burning straw man. It's much easier than attacking the real position of the opponent, and besides, it's very funny.

10. False average.
Example. "Injure someone in the heart - it is always fatal" and "injure someone in the heart - it is virtually safe." The mistake here is to assume that little prick someone's heart - it's perfectly acceptable.

A more sensible example of this approach can be seen, for example, in a televised debate where opponents take diametrically opposed positions, each of which is good in its own way. It makes the audience to believe that the truth is actually somewhere in the middle.

11. Connection.
12. The difficulty of proof.
That is debater tries to move to the difficulty of proving himself to his opponent. And his opponent is defeated, because to prove that something does not exist, is practically impossible.

13. Non sequitur (Lat., "Should not be»)
The second statement may be true, only it has nothing to do with the first. Nevertheless, it can be used in that way, if someone who is using it, you want to somehow link the two statements together and at the same time try to get the support for the second statement.

14. "Slippery slope».
Example. "If we allow homosexuals to marry, soon people will marry a toaster and riding».

Error "slippery slope" that arguments to common people often adds his hypothetical fear. And common sense is lost somewhere between these arguments and fear.

15. «Mistake».
Example. "You used the wrong information, and then everything that you said after that - not true».

To avoid this, it is necessary to put forward a single argument to each application opponent, and in any case not to generalize these arguments. In making individual judgments on every subject, we focus on the individual as the subject, and this can help to avoid logic errors in the future.

via listverse.com/2012/11/08/15-bad-arguments-we-all-abuse/