Flaws in Arguments

Flashcards with the definitions of all the flaws needed for the OCR Critical Thinking examination. Feel free to correct/ask questions :)

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  • Created by: Nora
  • Created on: 21-05-13 13:17
SLIPPERY SLOPE
the argument goes too quickly and contains a number of assumptions
1 of 13
POST HOC (FALSE CAUSATION)
it is suggested that because one thing occurs before another it is the cause of the second one. It might simply be coincidence or they may both be caused by a third factor
2 of 13
CIRCULAR ARGUMENT
the conclusion repeats the original claim or reasoning
3 of 13
RESTRICTING THE OPTIONS
the writer leads you to one conclusion by ignoring the other options which are available. You think the only ones that are available are the one or two in the argument.
4 of 13
CONFLATION
two or more different ideas are brought together and treated as the same thing
5 of 13
CAUSATION
the reason or evidence given for a conclusion is only partly true or a different reason is a more likely cause
6 of 13
TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT
someone attempts to justify one bad action on the basis that another different bad action was accepted
7 of 13
TU QUOQUE
someone attempts to justify an action on the basis that another person did it
8 of 13
CONFUSING NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT CONDITIONS
a condition has to be strong enough (sufficient) not just present (necessary)
9 of 13
GENERALISATION
a conclusion is drawn from one example and applied more widely
10 of 13
STRAW PERSON
an arguer picks on a small or weak part of an opponent's argument, shows that it is weak and then concludes that the whole argument is weak
11 of 13
AD HOMINEM
the reasoning against and opponent's argument is based on a personal attack rather than reasoning about the opponent's argument
12 of 13
ARGUING FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER UNRELATED CONCLUSION
where the reason does not support the conclusion
13 of 13

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

it is suggested that because one thing occurs before another it is the cause of the second one. It might simply be coincidence or they may both be caused by a third factor

Back

POST HOC (FALSE CAUSATION)

Card 3

Front

the conclusion repeats the original claim or reasoning

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

the writer leads you to one conclusion by ignoring the other options which are available. You think the only ones that are available are the one or two in the argument.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

two or more different ideas are brought together and treated as the same thing

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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