psychology chapter 5

testimonials

an appeal in which the sole support for a conclusion is someone's unsupported opinion

appeals to ignorance

an argument in which the premise involves something that is unknown

false dichotomy

an argument in which two possible conclusions or courses of action are presented when there are multiple other possibilities

circular reasoning

an argument structure in which the premise is a restatement of the conclusion

assumptions

in an argument, this is a statement for which no proof or evidence is offered. they may be stated or implied

counterargument

statements that refute or weaken a particular conclusion

main point

the principle argument in an extended passage

appeals to pride or snobbery

the use of praise or flattery to get its recipient to agree with a position

fallacies

unsound reasoning techniques that are used to change how people think

rationalizing

a biased analysis of an argument so that a preferred conclusion will be judged as acceptable or a non-preferred conclusion will be judged as unacceptable

qualifier

a constraint or restriction on the conclusion

popularity

a fallacy in which the only reason for the conclusion is that it is endorsed by everyone

appeals to pitty

a fallacy that asks for your compassion instead of appealing to your reason

card stacking

a fallacy that omits important info that might support an un-favored view

appeals to tradition

a fallacy that utilizes the reason that what already exists is best

arguments against the person

a form of propaganda that attack the people who support a cause and not the cause itself

statement

a phrase or sentence for which it makes sense to ask the question 'is it true or false'

acceptable

a standard for assessing the quality of a premise. a premise is acceptable when it is true or when we can reasonably believe it is true

adequate grounds

a standard for assessing the quality of an argument. occurs when the premises provides good support for a conclusion

consistent

a standard for assessing the quality of an argument. when the premises that supports a conclusion are not contradictory, they are this

convergent structures

a type of argument in which two or more premises support the same conclusion

straw person

a type of fallacy in which an opponent to a conclusion distorts the argument that supports the conclusion by substituting a weaker argument

chained or linked structures

argument types in which the conclusion of one sub-argument becomes the premise of a second argument

subarguments

arguments that are used to build the main argument in an extended passge

put downs

belittling an opposing point of views so that it will be difficult for the listener to agree with it

argument

consists of one or more statements that are used to provide support for a conclusion

slippery slope

counterargument for a conclusion in which the premise consists of the idea that because certain events lie along some continuum, it is not possible to take an action without affecting all the events on the continuum

knowing the unknowable

fallacy in which numbers are provided for events that cannot be qualified

false cause

fallacy in which one event is said to have cause the other because they occur together

propaganda

information presented by proselytizers of a doctrine or belief. it may distort the truth, alter evidence, and appeal to emotions. the objective is to get the reader or listener to endorse the belief

conclusion indicators

key words that often but not always signal that the statements that follow them are conclusions

premise indicators

key words that often but not always signal that the statements that follow them are premises

sound argument

meets 3 criteria: 1. acceptable and consistent premises 2. premises are relevant and provides sufficient support for the conclusion 3. missing components are considered and evaluated

reasons

the bases for believing that a conclusion is true or probably true

conclusion

the belief or statement that the writer or speaker is advocating. it is what the speaker wants you to do or believe

virtue by association

the fallacy of associating a position or person with a desirable position or person in order to create a favorable impression

guilt by association

the fallacy of associating a position or person with an undesirable position or person in order to create a negative impression

premises

the formal term for the statements that support a conclusion