Fallacies

Since philosophers have always been concerned in acquiring knowledge, truth has
always been at the center of any discourse that they have. For this reason, there are
many perspectives which focus on truth. Some of these perspectives are the following:
1. A belief is true if it can be justified or proven through the use of one’s senses.
2. A belief or statement is true if it is based on facts.
3. A belief or statement is true if you get a consensus or people who agree on a
common belief.
4. A belief or statement is true if it can be applied in real life.
5. A belief or statement is true if it can be subjected to test for validation.
These perspectives have certain truths on how we can determine if something is true.
However, in philosophy, one way in knowing truth is through logic and critical thinking.
Logic is the branch of Philosophy that focuses on the analysis of arguments. Arguments
are a series of statements that provide reasons to convince the reader or listener that a
claim or opinion is truthful. Arguments are given great importance since these are used
to convey ideas that influence the thinking, actions, and behavior of people. On the
other hand, critical thinking is distinguishing facts and opinions or personal convictions.
By undergoing these, we must first suspend our own bias or beliefs so that we will really
determine what is to be considered as true.
To further understand opinions, we must define it. Opinions are personal vies, attitudes,
or personal feelings on something. This means that opinions are statements that are
biased, and they lack evidence for their truthfulness. With this, philosophy helps us in
determining what is true from an opinion through logic. Logic is the branch of philosophy
which focuses on sound thinking and reasoning.
In logic, we can know the validity of claims and arguments through inductive and
deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is a process wherein you use your
observations to make generalizations. This type of reasoning is usually done to predict
or forecast something and understanding behaviors. In here, the approach in reasoning
is from specific to general. Here are some examples of inductive reasoning:
 The coin I pulled from the bag is a penny. That coin is a penny. A third coin from
the bag is a penny. Therefore, all the coins in the bag are pennies.
 Every time you eat peanuts, you start to cough. Therefore, you are allergic to
peanuts.
 Every windstorm in this area comes from the north. I can see a big cloud of dust
in the distance. A new windstorm is coming from the north.
On the other hand, deductive reasoning makes one draw conclusion from a broad
definition and deduce it into a specific claim. Here, the approach is general to specific.
For example:
All philosophers are wise.

Gabriel Marcel is a philosopher.
Therefore, Gabriel Marcel is wise.
However, we must also remember that there are arguments that some might say as
illogical. It means that there is a defect in the argument, or it has false premises. These
statements are called fallacies. Usually, a fallacy is done when there is an error in
reasoning which will lead to a false conclusion. Thus, truth is distorted. What are the
types of fallacies?
1. Appeal to pity – This fallacy is committed when you argue to appeal to the
emotion of others so that you can win them towards supporting your argument.
Another example of this is when you argue by making others feel pity or guilty.
2. Appeal to ignorance – In this fallacy, you argue that a conclusion must be true
because no one has proven it as false.
3. Against a person – This fallacy attacks the person presenting the argument and
not the argument itself.
4. Appeal to force – In this fallacy, you use threat of force to advance in an
argument or used as justification for a conclusion.
5. Appeal to the people – In this fallacy, the argument appeals or exploits people’s
vanities, desire for esteem and anchors on popularity.
6. False cause – This fallacy assumes a cause-and-effect relationship between
events. This means that since one event followed a previous event, the previous
event must have been the reason for the current event.
7. Begging the question – This type of fallacy states that a proposition that needs to
be proven is assumed as true.
8. Fallacy of composition – This fallacy assumes that what is true of a part is true
for the whole.
9. Fallacy of division – This fallacy assumes that what is true for the whole is true
for the parts.
10. Hasty generalization – This fallacy generalizes hastily even with insufficient
evidence.
When we observe statements or arguments using these fallacies, we can know what a
fact from an opinion is or what is true from what is false. These ways that we can learn
from philosophy can help us in determining truth by analyzing statements. Thus, it is
important for us to be reminded that we must be vigilant when we hear or read
something from the media because we must not be fooled by others. In the end, the
truth must prevail.
Here are some examples of fallacies:
 Since the students have no questions for the discussion, it means that they are
ready for the quiz. (appeal to ignorance)
 I know that we do not love each other, but if we do not get married, my
grandmother will be sad. (appeal to pity)
 This product is not good because the endorser is someone who is not to be
trusted. (against a person)

Fallacies

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Fallacies

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Since philosophers have always been concerned in acquiring knowledge, truth has

All philosophers are wise.

Here are some examples of fallacies:

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