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Faulty Reasoning

The document discusses different types of faulty reasoning that can be found in arguments and persuasive techniques. It provides examples of common faulty reasoning techniques such as circular reasoning, overgeneralization, false causality, assumptions, oversimplification, self-contradiction, and glittering generalities. It also includes examples of statements and identifies the type of faulty reasoning used in each.

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James Patron
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128 views12 pages

Faulty Reasoning

The document discusses different types of faulty reasoning that can be found in arguments and persuasive techniques. It provides examples of common faulty reasoning techniques such as circular reasoning, overgeneralization, false causality, assumptions, oversimplification, self-contradiction, and glittering generalities. It also includes examples of statements and identifies the type of faulty reasoning used in each.

Uploaded by

James Patron
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1/18/2017

WHAT IS FAULTY REASONING?

• Faulty Reasoning is another kind of persuasive


technique
• Faulty=having faults or imperfections
• Reasoning=reason or sound judgement
• Faulty Reasoning=an imperfect reason

WHERE DO YOU SEE IT?


• Newspaper editorials
• Commercials
• Print ads
• Conversations
• Books
• Magazines
• T.V. shows
• Everywhere!

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1/18/2017

CIRCULAR REASONING
• The writer/speaker/ad supports a claim with restatements
of the same claim. The argument goes around and around
with the reason making the same claim as the original
argument.
• Example: John Green 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.

OVERGENERALIZATION

• The writer reaches conclusions from a limited number of


facts (look for words such as all, always, every).
• Example: I love that movie we saw last night with Brad
Pitt. I am going to rent all of his movies, and I am sure I will
like all of them.
• Explanation: It is imperfect judgement (faulty reasoning)
to assume that you will love all Brad Pitt movies just
because you loved one.

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1/18/2017

FALSE CAUSALITY
• This occurs when two events happen at the same time, and
an assumption is made that one event caused the other.
• Example: Our house was burglarized right after the new
family moved in next door.
• Explanation: This statement attributes a false cause (new
family next door) to the effect (the burglary).

ASSUMPTIONS

• 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 man’s opinion. Others may think another
mountain range in Arizona is more beautiful.

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1/18/2017

OVER-SIMPLIFICATION

• 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.

SELF-CONTRADICTION
• 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 mayor’s first statement that improving education will
be his top priority.

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1/18/2017

GLITTERING GENERALITIES

• Making big claims and vague promises without providing


specific facts or research to back them up. It contains
“permissible lies” (statements that give a misleading
impression and lead people to false conclusions.)
• Example: Things go better with Coke.
• Explanation: This statement makes a vague promise that
they can’t guarantee.

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
• I argued with Mrs. Smith before I turned in my
homework so I got a bad grade on my paper.

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1/18/2017

FALSE CAUSALITY

• The student suggests that because he/she argued


with his teacher prior to turning in a paper (cause),
the result/effect was a bad grade.

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
•I hated the movie because it was the worst
movie I ever saw.

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1/18/2017

CIRCULAR REASONING

•“the worst movie I ever saw” is basically the


same thing as “I hated the movie.” It’s saying
the same thing

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
•All football players are poor students.

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1/18/2017

OVERGENERALIZATION

•This statement takes 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.

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
•I know why you failed all your classes last
semester.You don’t study.

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1/18/2017

OVERSIMPLIFICATION

•There could be many reasons why a student


experiences difficulty in school. Reducing the
problem to one solution is oversimplifying.

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
•McDonald’s is America’s favorite.

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1/18/2017

GLITTERING GENERALITIES

•This statement praises one company using


positive words.

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
•The first rule is that there are no rules.

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1/18/2017

SELF-CONTRADICTION

•If there are no rules, there can be no first rule!

WHAT TYPE OF FAULTY REASONING IS


THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT?
•The whole state of Arizona is flat desert.

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1/18/2017

ASSUMPTION

•People who have never been to Arizona


assume it’s flat desert because of TV/film
images of the desert.

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