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    Faulty Logic

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    David Oloo Stone
    This document defines and provides examples of different types of faulty logic: 1) Circular reasoning occurs when a claim is supported by restating the same claim without adding new evidence. 2) Overgeneralization makes broad conclusions from limited facts by using words like "all" or "every." 3) Self-contradiction occurs when a statement contradicts an earlier premise. 4) False causality incorrectly attributes one event as the cause of another without evidence they are causally related. 5) Over-simplification reduces complex issues to single causes when there are usually multiple factors. 6) Assumptions present opinions or stereotypes as facts without proof. Identifying faulty logic helps evaluate arguments critically.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Faulty Logic

    Uploaded by

    David Oloo Stone
    438 views42 pages
    This document defines and provides examples of different types of faulty logic: 1) Circular reasoning occurs when a claim is supported by restating the same claim without adding new evidence. 2) Overgeneralization makes broad conclusions from limited facts by using words like "all" or "every." 3) Self-contradiction occurs when a statement contradicts an earlier premise. 4) False causality incorrectly attributes one event as the cause of another without evidence they are causally related. 5) Over-simplification reduces complex issues to single causes when there are usually multiple factors. 6) Assumptions present opinions or stereotypes as facts without proof. Identifying faulty logic helps evaluate arguments critically.

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    This document defines and provides examples of different types of faulty logic: 1) Circular reasoning occurs when a claim is supported by restating the same claim without adding new evidence. 2) Overgeneralization makes broad conclusions from limited facts by using words like "all" or "every." 3) Self-contradiction occurs when a statement contradicts an earlier premise. 4) False causality incorrectly attributes one event as the cause of another without evidence they are causally related. 5) Over-simplification reduces complex issues to single causes when there are usually multiple factors. 6) Assumptions present opinions or stereotypes as facts without proof. Identifying faulty logic helps evaluate arguments critically.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    438 views42 pages

    Faulty Logic

    Uploaded by

    David Oloo Stone
    This document defines and provides examples of different types of faulty logic: 1) Circular reasoning occurs when a claim is supported by restating the same claim without adding new evidence. 2) Overgeneralization makes broad conclusions from limited facts by using words like "all" or "every." 3) Self-contradiction occurs when a statement contradicts an earlier premise. 4) False causality incorrectly attributes one event as the cause of another without evidence they are causally related. 5) Over-simplification reduces complex issues to single causes when there are usually multiple factors. 6) Assumptions present opinions or stereotypes as facts without proof. Identifying faulty logic helps evaluate arguments critically.

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    FAULTY

    LOGIC/REASONING
    OrWhat is wrong with this statement?

    What is faulty reasoning and


    faulty logic?

    First of all, faulty reasoning and faulty


    logic are two different ways to say the
    same thing.
    To make this easier on all of us, we are going
    to use the term logic instead of reasoning
    simply because its shorter!
    If you see the term faulty reasoning on the
    STAAR Reading Test or on a Benchmark
    Test, just know that its the same thing as
    faulty logic.

    So, what is faulty logic?


    Lets break it down.
    Faulty = having faults or imperfect
    Logic = reason or sound judgment
    Therefore, faulty logic is an imperfect
    reason.
    Faulty logic is another kind of
    persuasive technique.

    Where do we see faulty logic used?

    In newspaper editorials
    In commercials
    In print ads
    In conversations
    In books
    In magazines
    In T.V. shows
    We see faulty logic EVERYWHERE!

    Why do we have to learn about it?

    You will be asked to identify faulty logic on


    the STAAR Reading Test and on the
    Benchmark Test.
    If you learn to recognize faulty logic, you will
    become a more astute consumer of products
    and information.

    1st Type of Faulty Logic:


    Circular Reasoning

    DEFINITION: The writer (or speaker or ad)


    supports a claim with restatements of that
    same claim. The argument goes around and
    around with the reason making the same
    claim as the original argument.
    EXAMPLE: John Updike is a wonderful writer
    because he writes so well.
    EXPLANATION: The second half of the
    statement says basically the same thing as
    the first half.

    2nd Type of Faulty Logic:


    Overgeneralization

    DEFINITION: The writer reaches conclusions


    from a limited number of facts. (Look for
    words such as all, every, and always.)
    EXAMPLE: I loved that movie we saw last
    night with Brad Pitt. I am going to rent all of
    his movies, and I am sure Ill like all of them.
    EXPLANATION: It is an imperfect judgment
    (or faulty logic!) to assume that you will love
    all Brad Pitt movies just because you loved
    one!

    3rd Type of Faulty Logic:


    Self-Contradiction

    DEFINITION: The writer states a position that


    contradicts an earlier stated premise.
    EXAMPLE: As Mayor, my top priority will be
    improving education. So my first act of office
    will be to cut funding for our public schools.
    EXPLANATION: Cutting public school
    funding contradicts the mayors first
    statement that improving education will be his
    top priority.

    4th Type of Faulty Logic:


    False Causality

    DEFINITION: This occurs when two events


    happen at the same time, and an assumption
    is made that one event causes the other.
    EXAMPLE: Our house was burglarized right
    after that new family moved in next door.
    EXPLANATION: This statement attributes a
    false cause (new family next door) to the
    effect (the burglary).

    5th Type of Faulty Logic:


    Over-Simplification

    DEFINITION: This occurs when a single


    cause is assumed to have created a problem
    or an issue. In reality, the problem or issue
    may have been created by a number of
    causes.
    EXAMPLE: The cause of the Civil War was
    slavery.
    EXPLANATION: The above statement is too
    simplistic. Slavery was only one of several
    reasons the Civil War was fought.

    6th Type of Faulty Logic:


    Assumptions

    DEFINITION: This occurs when the writer


    may be proven false or may be merely stating
    an opinion.
    EXAMPLE: The Superstition Mountains are
    the most beautiful mountains in Arizona.
    EXPLANATION: Yes, these mountains are
    beautiful, but that is only one mans opinion.
    Others may think another mountain range in
    Arizona is more beautiful.

    Now You Try!


    On

    your whiteboard, write the


    names of the six different types
    of faulty logic.
    Draw a box next to each name.
    Read the examples.
    Place a check next to correct
    answer!

    What type of faulty logic is the


    following statement?

    STATEMENT: I argued with Mrs. Coulter before I


    turned in my homework so I got a bad grade on my
    paper.

    THE ANSWER: False Causality


    WHY? The student suggests that
    because he/she argued with his
    English teacher prior to turning in a
    paper (cause), the result/effect was a
    bad grade.
    STRATEGY: Try to identify an end
    result or effect. Ask yourself: Did the
    reason given really cause the end
    result?

    What is the faulty logic in the following


    statement?

    STATEMENT: I hated the movie because it


    was the worst movie I ever saw.

    THE ANSWER: Circular Reasoning


    WHY? the worst movie I ever saw is
    basically the same thing as I hated the
    movie. Its saying the same thing.
    STRATEGY: Look at the end of the
    sentence. Is it really similar to the
    beginning? Is it going around and
    around?

    What is the faulty logic here?

    STATEMENT: All football players are poor


    students.
    THE ANSWER: Overgeneralization
    WHY? This statement takes in an entire
    group of people all at once. It may be that
    some football players are poor students, but it
    is unfair to suggest that is true of all football
    players.
    STRATEGY: Remember! Look for words like
    all, every, and always.

    What is this one?

    STATEMENT: I know why you failed all your


    classes last semester. You dont study.

    THE ANSWER: Oversimplification


    WHY? There could be many reasons why a
    student experiences difficulty in school.
    Reducing the problem to one solution is
    oversimplifying.
    STRATEGY: Look for an effect that has
    MANY possible causes.

    And this one?

    STATEMENT: The first rule is that there are


    no rules.

    THE ANSWER: Self-Contradiction


    WHY: If there are no rules, there can be no
    first rule!
    STRATEGY: Look at the beginning of the
    sentence; look at the end. Are they the
    opposite of each other?

    How about this type of faulty logic?

    STATEMENT: The whole state of Arizona is


    flat desert.

    THE ANSWER: Assumption


    WHY? People who have never been to Arizona
    assume its flat desert because of TV / film images
    of saguaro cacti and desert.
    STRATEGY: Ask yourself: Is this statement true?
    Often, in an assumption, the statement is either
    false or an opinion. Often, the assumption is
    based on a stereotype.

    This one?

    STATEMENT: You got a good grade on your


    essay because the teacher likes you.

    THE ANSWER: False Causality


    WHY? This statement attributes the effect (a
    good grade) to a false cause (the teacher
    likes you).
    STRATEGY: Look at the cause and effect.
    Ask yourself: Is this really the cause?

    Try this one

    STATEMENT: Juan is an impressive speaker


    because he always impresses his listeners deeply.

    THE ANSWER: Circular Reasoning


    WHY? He impresses his listeners deeply
    is basically the same thing as Juan is an
    impressive speaker. The statement is
    going around in circles.
    STRATEGY: Look at the sentence
    beginning and the sentence ending. Ask
    yourself: Does it go around in circles?

    Heres another one to try

    STATEMENT: All teenagers are


    irresponsible.

    THE ANSWER: Overgeneralization


    WHY? All teenagers are NOT irresponsible.
    This statement relies on stereotypes and is
    an unfair conclusion based on limited
    observations.
    STRATEGY: Look for the context cluesthe
    word all. Ask yourself: Are all teenagers
    irresponsible?

    Try again

    STATEMENT: This class is awesome


    because we do awesome things in here.

    THE ANSWER: Circular Reasoning


    WHY? we do awesome things is very
    similar to This class is awesome. Again,
    the last half of the statement is similar to the
    first half; its going around and around in a
    circle.
    STRATEGY: Look at sentence beginnings
    and sentence endings. Are they similar?

    What type of faulty logic is this one?

    STATEMENT: I am proud that I am humble.

    THE ANSWER: Self-Contradictory


    WHY? Being proud is the exact opposite of
    being humble. The speaker is contradicting
    himself.
    STRATEGY: Look at sentence beginnings
    and endings. Does the beginning of the
    sentence contradict the ending?

    How about this one?

    STATEMENT: Blondes are dumb.


    THE ANSWER: Assumption
    WHY? This statement comes from the
    stereotype that people who are blonde are
    not very smart. Weve all heard it so often
    that we kind of assume its true. (By the way,
    ITS NOT TRUE!)
    STRATEGY: Ask yourself: Is this statement
    true? Is it based on a stereotype?

    One Last One

    STATEMENT: Teenagers have bad skin because


    they dont wash their faces.

    THE ANSWER: Oversimplification


    WHY? This answer argues that there is
    only one reason for teenagers skin
    problems. In fact, there are numerous
    causes.
    STRATEGY: Look for a cause and effect
    relationship. Ask yourself: Could there be
    more than one cause that brings about
    the effect? If the answer is yes, then the
    answer is too simple.

    A Final Look at Strategies


    Circular

    Reasoning

    Look at sentence beginnings and


    endings.
    If the faulty logic is circular reasoning,
    the ending will be almost the same or, at
    least, very similar to the beginning.
    The logic goes around in circles.

    Overgeneralization

    Look for context clues: all, every,


    always, never.
    Stereotypes may be present.

    Self-Contradiction

    Look at sentence beginnings and


    sentence endings.
    The beginning and ending will be
    oppositesthey will contradict
    each other.

    False

    Causality

    Look for a cause and effect


    relationship.
    The cause will be FALSE!

    Over-Simplification

    Look for a cause and effect


    relationship in the statement.
    The causes have been cut down to
    ONE CAUSE.
    The ONE CAUSE is TOO SIMPLE!

    Assumptions

    Ask these questions:

    Does this statement involve a


    stereotype?
    Is this statement just an opinion?
    Can this statement be proven false?

    If the answer is yes to any of these


    questions, then the faulty logic is
    probably an assumption.

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