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Author Topic: CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy  (Read 20626 times)

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Offline Kwisatz Haderach

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CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy
« Reply #30 on: Aug 13, 2007, 10:53:24 AM »
Quote from: "RMZ"
Scott Adams has a book with a collection of logical fallacies, and yet practices "affirmations" (i.e., a variant on Oprah's "Secret").   :shock:


That would be a "poisoning the well," right?
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Offline Tai Fung

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CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy
« Reply #31 on: Aug 13, 2007, 10:55:32 AM »
Quote from: "Febo"
Quote from: "RMZ"
Scott Adams has a book with a collection of logical fallacies, and yet practices "affirmations" (i.e., a variant on Oprah's "Secret").   :shock:


That would be a "poisoning the well," right?


Watch it, or I'll cube ya again!   :x
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Offline CapSponge

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CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy
« Reply #32 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:12:14 AM »
The rabbit's on the right track, but I'm hoping for something slightly more specific.
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Offline thefellswooper

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Re: FALLACY #9
« Reply #33 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:18:51 AM »
Quote from: "CapSponge"
EXAMPLE #9

I don't invest in U.S. Treasury Bills.  There's too much risk.


This is something like inversion.  Assuming an exactly false premise.
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Offline thefellswooper

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Re: FALLACY #9
« Reply #34 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:22:29 AM »
Quote from: "CapSponge"
EXAMPLE #9

I don't invest in U.S. Treasury Bills.  There's too much risk.


There's also an element of unrealistic standards or moving the goalpost.  

"I won't invest in that because it's too risky."

"Well, then what about t-Bills?"

"Still too risky!"
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Offline CapSponge

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FALLACY #10
« Reply #35 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:33:46 AM »
Hmmm...  There seems to be a consensus building agains me on this one.  I was going for something more like ignoring the counterevidence or one-sided assessment.  T-bills do have risk, but risk can only be assessed relative to other options.  (T-bills have beta < 1)

But I fear I may be reading too much into this one.  Given the vagueness of the example, argument from ignorance and false premise seem equally valid.

So we'll call this point for Rabbit.

Adams' identification:  "Judging Things Without Comparison to Alternatives"



EXAMPLE #10

If you have the right tools, how hard could it be to generate nuclear fusion at home?
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Offline Tai Fung

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Re: FALLACY #10
« Reply #36 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:35:40 AM »
Quote from: "CapSponge"


EXAMPLE #10

If you have the right tools, how hard could it be to generate nuclear fusion at home?



Argument from ignorance, or a slightly inverted argument from personal incredulity?
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Atheism should be about "Science and Social Justice" the same way Math should be about "Numbers and Fashion."

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Offline thefellswooper

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Re: FALLACY #10
« Reply #37 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:36:51 AM »
Quote from: "CapSponge"



EXAMPLE #10

If you have the right tools, how hard could it be to generate nuclear fusion at home?


This I'd call an argument from ignorance.
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Offline thefellswooper

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CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy
« Reply #38 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:37:30 AM »
Drat you, RMZ!
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Offline Tai Fung

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CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy
« Reply #39 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:40:04 AM »
Quote from: "thefellswooper"
Drat you, RMZ!


*hides from the tentacles*

 :shock:
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Atheism should be about "Science and Social Justice" the same way Math should be about "Numbers and Fashion."

Certain forums members on "ignore."  Silence to their points does not equal agreement, it merely means I can't see their drivel anymore.  :D

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Offline Øyvind

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CONTEST - Correctly name that fallacy
« Reply #40 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:49:30 AM »
Also, who on earth said you had the equipment to build a fusion reactor in your home?
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Offline CapSponge

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THE SCORE AFTER ROUND 10
« Reply #41 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:51:57 AM »
THE SCORE AFTER ROUND 10:

Rueful Rabbit 2
Moneyman 1.75
Zeno Itzen 1.5
Oyvind 1
Paul Ganssle 1
thefellswooper 1
RMZ 1
Zam 0.5
bracabaoma 0.25

Winners get to go out and buy themselves a cookie!
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Offline CapSponge

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FALLACY #11
« Reply #42 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:53:55 AM »
Round 10 goes to RMZ

Adams' identification:  "Anything You Don't Understand is Easy to Do"



EXAMPLE 11:

I'm putting ALL my money on the lottery this week because the jackpot is so big!
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Offline thefellswooper

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Re: FALLACY #11
« Reply #43 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:56:34 AM »
Quote from: "CapSponge"
Round 10 goes to RMZ

Adams' identification:  "Anything You Don't Understand is Easy to Do"



EXAMPLE 11:

I'm putting ALL my money on the lottery this week because the jackpot is so big!


This is a tough one....  Is there a fallacy called "Being an idiot about probability"?
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Offline Tai Fung

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Re: FALLACY #11
« Reply #44 on: Aug 13, 2007, 11:57:32 AM »
Quote from: "CapSponge"


EXAMPLE 11:

I'm putting ALL my money on the lottery this week because the jackpot is so big!


Confusing association with causation?  So, "If I spend a lot on the lottery, I have a better chance of winning?"
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Atheism should be about "Science and Social Justice" the same way Math should be about "Numbers and Fashion."

Certain forums members on "ignore."  Silence to their points does not equal agreement, it merely means I can't see their drivel anymore.  :D

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