Wednesday New Seats Finish Fallacy notes –Fallacy activity A discussion about honors Baseball article #2: analyze for fallacies & with PALBEG Homework: read articles on Darfur conflict, then analyze (PALBEG as guide)/compare/contrast

4.2.8 Weak Analogy Example: Nobody would buy a car without first taking it for a test drive. Why then shouldn’t two mature college students live together before they decide whether to get married? Weak Analogy Comparing things that aren’t really comparable. Weak Analogy Comparing things that aren’t really comparable. important similarities 1. List all important similarities between the two cases. important dissimilarities 2. List all important dissimilarities between the two cases. Decide 3. Decide whether the similarities or dissimilarities are more important. Tip

4.2.9 Inconsistency Example: Note found in a Forest Service Suggestion box: Park visitors need to know how important it is to keep this wilderness area completely pristine and undisturbed. So why not put up a few signs to remind people of this fact? Inconsistency Asserting inconsistent or contradictory claims.Inconsistency It is also a mistake to cling stubbornly to an old idea when new information suggests that the idea is false. Open-minded to new ideas = Learning Remember

What's to say against [cigars]? They killed George Burns at 100. If he hadn't smoked them, he'd have died at 75. (Bert Sugar, quoted in New York Times, September 20, 2002) Which fallacy? A)Questionable Cause B)Hasty Generalization C)Slippery Slope D)Weak Analogy 4.2 Mini Quiz – Question 1

According to North Korea's official state- run news agency, "a war between North Korea and the United States will end with the delightful victory of North Korea, a newly emerging military power, in 100 hours.... The U. S. [will] be enveloped in flames... and the arrogant empire of the devil will breathe its last". Given that this prediction comes from the official North Korean news agency, it is probably true. (Passage quoted in Nicholas D. Kristof, "Empire of the Devil," New York Times, April 4, 2003) Which fallacy? A) Inappropriate Appeal to Authority B) Appeal to Ignorance C) False Alternatives D) Loaded Question 4.2 Mini Quiz – Question 2

Jurors in tobacco lawsuits should award judgments so large that they put tobacco companies out of business. Respecting the right of tobacco companies to stay in business is akin to saying there are "two sides" to slavery... (Anti-tobacco lawyer, quoted in George F. Will, "Court Ruling Expresses Anti- Smoking Hypocrisy," Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, May 25, 2003) Which fallacy? A) Loaded Question B) Hasty Generalization C) Slippery Slope D) Weak Analogy 4.2 Mini Quiz – Question 3

Group Activity construct five (5) fallacious arguments.Break into groups of 4 - 6, and construct five (5) fallacious arguments. Each group can choose any of the 20 fallacies discussed, but must construct at least two fallacious arguments of each category: Fallacies of Relevance & Fallacies of Insufficient Evidence). The constructed fallacious arguments must discuss the topics specified in the template provided (Business, Education, Information Technology, Environment, and Tourism). 20 min Construct 5 fallacious arguments. 5 minDocument constructed arguments into the template provided. 15 min Group presentation & discussion. The Group leader must submit their findings in hard-copy or soft- copy format to the lecturer before or during the next class.

Summary – 20 Common Fallacies Fallacy contains a mistake in reasoning An argument that contains a mistake in reasoning. Fallacies of Relevance Arguments in which the premises are logically irrelevant to the conclusion. Fallacies of Insufficient Evidence Arguments in which the premises, though logically relevant to the conclusion, fail to provide sufficient evidence for the conclusion.  Personal Attack  Attacking the Motive  Look Who’s Talking  Two Wrongs Make a Right  Scare Tactics  Appeal to Pity  Bandwagon Argument  Straw Man  Red Herring  Equivocation  Begging the Question  Inappropriate Appeal to Authority  Appeal to Ignorance  False Alternatives  Loaded Question  Questionable Cause  Hasty Generalization  Slippery Slope  Weak Analogy  Inconsistency

References Book Chapter 5 (Logical Fallacies -1) & 6 (Logical Fallacies -2): G Bassham, W Irwin, H Nardone, J M Wallace, Critical Thinking: A Student's Introduction, McGraw-Hill International Edition, 2007 Online Resources Fallacies (The Nizkor Project): Cool Optical Illusions:

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