Fallacies of Weak Induction Insufficient Evidence Inappropriate Appeal

Fallacies of Weak Induction (Insufficient Evidence)

Inappropriate Appeal to Authority • We get a weak Argument from Authority when we cite a source that is: • Not a recognized authority, or a dubious authority • An authority in a field different from the topic of our argument • Potentially biased, untruthful • Making a claim that's controversial in the overall body of authorities.

Appeal to Ignorance • Misplaced Burden of Proof • Arguing that a claim is true just because no one has proven it false (when the burden of proof is actually on the "true" side), or vice versa • Distinguish from the correct argument: Appeal to Testing/Search • "Presumed innocent until proven guilty" is a special legal principle that always forces the burden of proof on the prosecution.

False Alternatives • Any Argument by Elimination (even if it's valid) that has an oversimplified "either-or" premise. • This could be a label for any obvious oversimplification of an issue, or an overly simple answer.

Hasty Generalization • The fallacy of supporting a general conclusion with an insufficient quantity of cases as evidence. Weak inductive generalization • Insufficient evidence in a Hasty Generalization is often called "anecdotal evidence" • Hasty generalization (or over-generality) is usually at the root of stereotyping.

Biased Sampling • Generalizing from a large but biased, unrepresentative, skewed sample. • Generalizing from a poor quality of evidence (even with sufficient quantity), produces a weak argument. • Having a large random sample is the best way to get a good, representative sample.

Weak Analogy • An inductive analogy based on comparing things that have a significant, relevant disanalogy. • "Comparing apples and oranges"

Questionable Cause • Any weak inference from observed patterns to a causeand-effect conclusion, or using a dubious cause-effect claim as a premise. • Includes fallacies of misplaced blame, the "blame game" • Includes oversimplified causal explanations • Includes mistaking correlation for causation • Includes Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

The Slippery Slope Fallacy • A weak inductive prediction of dire consequences • "We shouldn't do A, because that will lead to B, then to C, then D, and D stands for disaster! • The prediction is usually a mere possibility, not a significant probability.

Slippery Slope • BEWARE: Some slopes really are "slippery, " giving us strong inductive prediction. • CONTRAST this fallacy with good argument that we shouldn't do something because doing so will set a precedent that would be very difficult to maintain.

Loaded Question • More of a language issue than a logical fallacy. A question is not an argument. No argument, no fallacy. • A loaded question is a question that carries an assumption(s) that is doubtful and unsupported.

Inconsistency • An argument containing inconsistent premises, or a conclusion that's inconsistent with one or more premise, is a bad argument. Making inconsistent statements is bad outside of an argument, also.