...Teacher: Shawn Haake January 18, 2015 PHI101FD0215SP CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Western Philosophy Origins of the word Philosophy: The word "philosophy" comes from the Ancient Greek (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom Explain Modes of persuasion Persuasion is clearly a sort of demonstration, since we are most fully persuaded when we consider a thing to have been demonstrated. Of the modes of persuasion furnished by the spoken word there are three kinds. Persuasion is achieved by the speaker's personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible. Secondly, persuasion may come through the hearers, when the speech stirs their emotions. Thirdly, persuasion is effected through the speech itself when we have proved a truth or an apparent truth by means of the persuasive arguments suitable to the case in question. MYTHOS: a set of beliefs or assumptions about something. LOGOS: Logos (Logical) means persuading by the use of reasoning. This will be the most important technique we will study, and Aristotle's favorite. We'll look at deductive and inductive reasoning, and discuss what makes an effective, persuasive reason to back up your claims. Giving reasons is the heart of argumentation, and cannot be emphasized enough. We'll study the types of support you can use to substantiate your thesis, and look at some of the common logical fallacies, in order to avoid them in your writing. Who was THALES? Was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher...
Words: 2781 - Pages: 12
...we identify Logical Fallacies? By: Tabitha Harris American InterContinental Online University July 16, 2013 Abstract This purpose of this paper is to identify and explain what literature experts call Logical Fallacies. This document will include reasonable vocabulary, logical definitions, and sound examples of how to and how not to include these fallacies into your writings. There will be some suggestions made to assist with recognizing and examining some of the logical fallacies located within the writings of others, as well as in your own. By the end of this paper, your thoughts will be enlightened, and your knowledge of logical fallacies stronger, whether you’re a reader, writer, or just someone looking to learn. How do we identify Logical Fallacies? Logical Fallacies are arguments or false statements that appear to be true, when in fact, they’re not. Logical fallacies can also be accurate and are used to pursue someone to accept a single thought or feeling. People use logical fallacies to prove a point and to support reasoning behind a thought. There are different types of fallacies that I will go over in this paper. Fallacies often dilute arguments and by learning to recognize them in your own writing helps boost your ability to identify them in others’ writings, as well. This document will point out and explain key fallacies to look for in your writings and literature in general. (Career Education Corporation [CEC], 2010) LOGICAL FALLACIES: * Mere...
Words: 892 - Pages: 4
...Book Review of Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking by D.Q. McInerny is an introduction to the science and art of thinking and living logically. The paperback version includes a preface and 137-pages that was published in 2005 by Random House in New Work and has a price tag of $12.95. The author, D.Q. McInerny, is a professor of philosophy and has taught logic at several institutes of higher learning before ending up at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has written works on religious philosophy and has collaborated on three text books concerning philosophy and logic. McInerny has written with conviction but believes that logic must be exercised in the educational process (McInerny, 2005). In this particular work, McInerny attempts to make his readers understand logic by seeing their surroundings and environments in an objective and critical manner (McInerny, 2005). He is able to do so in lay-man’s terms that almost any reader would be able to comprehend. This piece was written as a handbook for presenting the very basic values of logic to people who have never had the chance to practice it before. Those that have been well versed in logic before may easily lose interest in a work this simplified. Summary Being Logical is organized into five parts: 1) Preparing the Mind for Logic; 2) The Basic Principles of Logic; 3) Argument: The Language of Logic; 4) The Sources of Illogical Thinking; and 5) The...
Words: 1616 - Pages: 7
...the many types of Logical Fallacies .American Intercontinental University PHIL 201- 1401B-02 Week 3 Individual Assignment Introduction: Logical Fallacy: A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning. In other words, it is a factual error or a failure to logically support the conclusion in an argument. An argument is a group of statements about a specific topic where a stand is taken applying premises needed to support their conclusion. A fallacy is a type of argument where the person uses bad arguments to support their conclusion but in order to be a fallacy it must be believed some of the time (Eemeren & Grootendorst, 1995). The different types of fallacies are mere assertion, circular reasoning, Ad hominem, red herring, pseudo-questions, false cause, sweeping generalizations, slippery slope, and equivocation or changing meanings. Mere Assertion: Arguments by mere assertion simply mean a person uses a strong statement instead of any real fact to argue a point. Just because an argument is stated emphatically does not mean that statement is in fact true. In mere assertion even if there are facts to the contrary or that contradict the argument it will continue o be supported. Arguments by mere assertion are also considered rhetoric. Rhetoric is supporting the argument despite the fact there is no evidence the argument is true. It is a form of persuasion or blind faith in the mere assertion. Circular Reasoning: Circular reasoning is a type of fallacy where the argument...
Words: 1375 - Pages: 6
...UNIT 3 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT PHIL201-Introduction to Philosophy by Kendra M Hutchins AIU Online 11-25-2012 Because philosophy is so important in our society, we have to study also the logical errors that will occur. Upon research of fallacies, I have learned they are statements or ideas that may sound reasonable or sketchily true but are actually weak or dishonest. If there is any error in an idea, than a logical fallacy is apparent. Depending on how the fallacy is formed or what it is geared around, determines the type of fallacy the argument or idea is. These come up in the philosophy world very often. This is why philosophers have different categories for them. Depending on how the error comes about determines the type of fallacy it is. Mere Assertion is an argument that lacks factual support. It’s merely an opinion that is formed more so by belief then logical evidence. For example, Robert is a vampire; I can feel his cold blood when I touch him. This argument has no real logic behind it, only reasoning that makes sense to the person stating it. Because this statement is not backed by facts of Robert being a vampire, then it is a mere assertion. With not giving enough information in an argument, this can cause confusion. Robert could just have cold blood, that does not mean he is indeed a vampire. Circular Reasoning is an argument that aids support to a statement by repeating itself in a bolder definition. For example, I am human because my mother is human and my...
Words: 1168 - Pages: 5
...Logical Fallacies American InterContinental University - Online PHIL201-1204A-02 October 20, 2012 Earl Barnett Logical Fallacies Fallacies are statements that might sound reasonable or sketchily true but are actually weak or dishonest. I will discuss and give me interpretation of some common logical fallacies. Mere Assertion & Circular Reasoning Mere Assertion is an argument that lacks factual support. It’s merely an opinion that is formed more so by belief then logical evidence. For example, “Robert is a vampire; I can feel his cold blood when I touch him.” This argument has no real logic behind it, only reasoning that makes sense to the person stating it. Circular Reasoning is an argument that aids support to a statement by repeating itself in a bolder definition. For example, I am human because my mother is human and my mother is human because I am human. Using the method of circular reasoning states that because I was conceived by my mother I am human as well. Both statements in my argument prove each other to be true, which makes my conclusion and premises the same. Ad Hominem & Red Herring Ad Hominem is an argument used to negatively portray ones character. This method of argument redirects ones attention from a certain topic by providing unrelated accusations about the person in support of the topic. For instance, in a court dispute over which parent should be granted full custody of their child, the defending lawyer states that the father...
Words: 897 - Pages: 4
...Logical Fallacies Defined Jamie Osborne American InterContinental University Abstract Fallacies can be viewed as a mistake or error. There are many different fallacies with different meanings for each. The following paper will discuss 9 logical fallacies. The paper will also include definitions for each of the 9 fallacies as well as examples of being applied to real life scenarios. Logical Fallacies defined Everyone has gotten into an argument with someone once or twice in their lifetime. Some people have mastered their skills in being argumentative while others are lacking in that department. The following will be a list of 9 different types of argument styles that could take place in one’s argument scenario. We have all been in an argument and more than likely used one or more of these in arguments that we have had in the past. The first logical fallacy to discuss will be Mere Assertion. By definition mere assertion means while arguing one’s point no matter what the opposing party may have to say their argument is right because that person believes it to be the truth. To further explain will an example P1- Mermaids are real and have inhabited the sea since the beginning of time. P2- Mermaids are in fact real and inhabit the sea because I believe they do. C- Mermaids are real and have inhabited the sea since the beginning of time because I believe they do. Therefore due to the fact that I believe that mermaids are real and that they inhabit the sea because...
Words: 1322 - Pages: 6
...translation for “against the person”. It means when a claim during an argument, that is a personal attack or allegation and is not logical and is irrelevant. Example: “President Obama held a press conference to talk about the serious issue of ISIS but he obviously did not take it that serious because he wore a tan suit and not a grey or black one.” Red Herring: The term refers to fox hunting, when a smoked herring is dragged on the route of hunting to distracted the hounds’ scent. The argument is a sidetrack comment used to deflect from the actual issue at hand. Example: “I know I shouldn’t have spent this much money on a dress, but does it not accentuate my figure nicely?” Pseudo Question: A pseudo question is an open-ended question that has no answer. Example: If god loves all of us, why does he make some people struggle more than others? False-Cause: A false-cause is coming to the conclusion that something occurred by an inaccurate observation. Example: The Atlanta Falcons were a horrible team until I moved here in 2012 and they almost made it to the super bowl. Sweeping Generalization: A sweeping generalization is a wide range assumption that does not apply to all cases or situations. Example: Majority of all hip-hop artists are black, so therefore all black people love hip-hop. Slippery Slope: A slippery slope fallacy refers a...
Words: 449 - Pages: 2
...ACCRA, NOVEMBER, 2011 Table of content pages Introduction 1 1. Philosophy of history 1 2. Philosophy of religion 4 3. Logic 6 4. Ethics 8 5. Cosmology 10 6. Philosophy of mind 12 7. Metaphysics 14 8. Philosophy of beauty 16 9. Philosophy of language 18 10. Philosophy of science 20 11. Epistemology 21 Conclusion 23 Bibliography 24 Introduction Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom. Philosophy at this contemporary world has gone through a lot of changes before getting to this stage. It can be seen in the historical perspective and also the topical perspective. The historical or chronological is when we look at the ideas of some philosophers in the past how they influence society with their way of thinking and the motive behind them. In these chronological system is the ancient era, the medieval era, the modern era and presently the contemporary era. In the beginning all systematic search for knowledge was philosophy. This is clearly seen in the modern university where the highest degree granted in all of the science and humanities is the Ph. D. the doctor of philosophy. But the children began to leave home. The first to leave was physics and astronomy. As they begun to develop experimental techniques of their own. This exodus, led by Galileo and Isaac Newton and Johannes...
Words: 6713 - Pages: 27
...Coppin University | Fallacies | Research Paper #2 | | Johnson, Tiara | 6/28/2013 | Fallacies are arguments that have an error in their reasoning. Its conclusion does not have to be true for an argument to be fallacious. There are formal and informal fallacies. An invalid argument that stems from an error in its logical form is called a formal fallacy. An error in reasoning that has originated in improperly is called an informal fallacy. Arguments in either fallacy can still be valid. Some fallacies manipulate or by intentional deception others persuade unintentionally due to lack of understanding or ignorance. A False Cause is an argument that connects or establishes a cause mistakenly. For example, "Since hair tends to thin after some elderly grow grey hair, the thinning of hair causes the greys to grow." This fallacy identifies something that really isn’t the cause as the cause. This is also known as non causa pro causa. The fallacy of Accident is when the whole is wrongly applied to some. The fallacy is a generalization that can be assumed to be true in entirety but may not apply to a particular case. It is when your priorities are not placed correctly. It is good to do the ideally honest or correct thing but if someone’s life was in danger it is better to save that person than do what is ideal. This is a result of the fallacy using a statement as if it had no qualified meaning. For Example, “Thou shalt not kill; if this is true in every situation, you should...
Words: 629 - Pages: 3
...Intro to Philosophy Wendy Broussard-Murray Aiuonline Intro to Philosophy Mere Assertion – A belief that what you think is true just because you want it to be, but you have nothing solid to prove it to be correct. It is basically ones opinion. Example: Brenden did not steal the IPod because he is not a thief. Circular Reasoning – (begging the question) A question that is never really answered or proved. Example: Perry Marshall claims, “DNA is not merely a molecule with a pattern; it is a code… and an information storage mechanism. All codes are created by a conscious mind; there is no natural process known to science that creates coded information. Therefore, DNA is designed by a mind.” (Perry, 2014) Ad Hominem – The attack on a person’s character distracting you from the real issue. Example: Don’t believe what Larry says about raising children. He is the head of pro-abortion campaign. Red Herring – During a disagreement, one person goes on a tangent, bring up a different side of the disagreement that distracts everyone from what is really going on, usually not going back to the original disagreement. Example: A person is reading a book and is lead to believe a specific character is guilty, when in fact the person is innocent. Pseudo-questions – A question that has no real answer because it makes no sense. Example: “Do you support the right to possess a hand gun as set forth by our constitution?” (Gracyk, 2012) False Cause – It is assumed that there is a...
Words: 600 - Pages: 3
...Study Guide: Lesson 4 A Little Logic Lesson Overview Logic is the primary tool or methodology in studying philosophy. Philosophy is about analyzing and constructing arguments and a good understanding of the basics of logical reasoning is essential in performing that task. The next 3 lessons will focus on logic and analyzing arguments. In this lesson, you will first be introduced to the laws of logic. These are the first principles for all reasoning. We will then discuss the specialized terminology we use in logic. Finally, we will examine 2 major kinds of logical reasoning: deductive and inductive. We will consider different forms of arguments under each and discuss how to evaluate these arguments. Take note that a large part of this lesson is about learning the terminology for logic. Tasks Read and take notes from chapter 5 of Philosophy: Critically Thinking about Foundational Beliefs, “A Little Logic.” As you read, make sure you understand the following points and questions: * Why are the laws of logic foundational? * The Law of Logic makes discourse possible. If they are not recognized as true, than nothing we claim makes any sense. Therefore, it is important to have a firm grasp of these laws. * List and explain the 3 laws of logic. 1. Noncontradiction – “Something cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same respect. Expressed symbolically: ~ (P•~P).² It reads, “It is not the case that there can be both P and non-P”. 2....
Words: 1412 - Pages: 6
...Mishailla Ravet Web-quest Directions: Complete the template by using internet resources. Find the definition of each as well as three examples to support each definition. All answers must be typed – print out a final copy for teacher and self E.C. = +5pts on Quiz and notes if completed by the end of the hour today 1. |wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn | | | | |Definition |Example #1 | |Example: |Claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant |Why should your views on welfare reform matter when we all know | |Ad Hominem |fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim or |that your parents make a lot of money. | | |argument | | |Tu Quoque | An attempt to discredit the opponent's position by exposing |Bill: “It is wrong to use animals as clothing. | | |his failure to act consistently in accordance with that |Ted: “But you are wearing a leather jacket.” ...
Words: 1040 - Pages: 5
...Ambiguous Middle Term Four-Term Fallacy Taxonomy: Logical Fallacy > Informal Fallacy > Ambiguity > Equivocation > Ambiguous Middle < Four-Term Fallacy < Syllogistic Fallacy < Formal Fallacy < Logical Fallacy Form: Any validating form of categorical syllogism with an ambiguous middle term. For a short introduction to categorical syllogisms, see the entry for syllogistic fallacy. Example Counter-Example All human fetuses are human. Any human is a being with a right to life. Therefore, all human fetuses are beings with a right to life. All dog fetuses are canine. Any canine is an animal that must be on a leash. Therefore, all dog fetuses are animals that must be on a leash. Exposition: A categorical syllogism is, by definition, an argument with three categorical terms occurring within it. Each such term occurs in two statements in the argument, and the middle term is the one that occurs in both premisses but not in the conclusion. Since each term occurs twice in a syllogism, if any term is ambiguous it is possible that it occurs with two different meanings. If the syllogism would be otherwise valid, it is said to commit the syllogistic four-term fallacy―that is, a single word may ambiguously stand for two terms. In effect, such an argument has four terms, which violates the definition of "categorical syllogism". Moreover, if a word or phrase in such an argument ambiguously represents two terms, the argument commits the informal fallacy of Equivocation. For instance...
Words: 1095 - Pages: 5
...ability to judge. Further, critical thinking is said to be analytical skills, effective communication, research and inquiry skills, flexibility and tolerance for ambiguity, and open-minded skepticism. I will posit that concerning the first three, hardly anyone will argue the fact that Nietzsche was very well adept at these. It seems as though the last skill is very important in the attempt to qualify Nietzsche as being the ultimate critical thinker. In consideration of Nietzsche following the principles of critical thinking, it could be argued that the skill of open-minded skepticism, or skepticism in particular and particularly in Nietzsche's case, might apply most accordingly with what Nietzsche was attempting to accomplish with his philosophies. It is apparent that Nietzsche was inspired by and employed the "Method Of Doubt" that Rene Descarte forwarded. This method has been termed as critical analysis in which we put aside our preconceived ideas and beliefs and begin from a position of skepticism. Further, it could be argued that Nietzsche, having a firm grip on a healthy skepticism, was able to identify and challenge the barriers to...
Words: 483 - Pages: 2
