FALLACIES IN

REASONING
Introduction To Human Philosophy Of The Human Person
Module 5
Oral Activity
It is a logical error that does not
follow the rules of inference or that
violates them.

FA LA LY C
It is a logical error that does not
follow the rules of inference or that
violates them.

FA L LA C Y
 An argument whose conclusion is
not adequately supported and/or
does not necessarily have to be the
conclusion that can be drawn.

I O N F M R A FALLACY
 An argument whose conclusion is
not adequately supported and/or
does not necessarily have to be the
conclusion that can be drawn.

I N F O R M A FALLACY
An error of logical form in invalid
argument which violates rule of
inference or the principles of
deductive logic.

A F R L M O FALLACY
An error of logical form in invalid
argument which violates rule of
inference or the principles of
deductive logic.

F O R M A L FALLACY
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, we will be able to:

Distinguish fallacies in reasoning

Avoid fallacies reasoning
Value the significance of avoiding fallacies in
reasoning
LOOKING BACK
All people are prone to emotional problems but married people
are happier than unmarried one. They have more chances of
succeeding on every career they choose and would tend to live
longer than single person. Working men are more easily tempted
than women because they tend to be secretive and quiet. Some
studies prove that those families who have stronger religious
faith are usually stayed together and lessen the chances of family
break up.
LOOKING BACK
All people are prone to emotional problems but married people
are happier than unmarried one. They have more chances of
succeeding on every career they choose and would tend to live
longer than single person. Working men are more easily tempted
than women because they tend to be secretive and quiet. Some
studies prove that those families who have stronger religious
faith are usually stayed together and lessen the chances of family
break up.
LOOKING BACK
All people are prone to emotional problems but married people
are happier than unmarried one. They have more chances of
succeeding on every career they choose and would tend to live
longer than single person. Working men are more easily tempted
than women because they tend to be secretive and quiet. Some
studies prove that those families who have stronger religious
faith are usually stayed together and lessen the chances of family
break up.
LOOKING BACK
All people are prone to emotional problems but married people
are happier than unmarried one. They have more chances of
succeeding on every career they choose and would tend to live
longer than single person. Working men are more easily tempted
than women because they tend to be secretive and quiet. Some
studies prove that those families who have stronger religious
faith are usually stayed together and lessen the chances of family
break up.
Definition Faulty Reasoning
The word fallacy is from Latin “fallacia” which means
“decit” or trick. A fallacy is a logical error that does not follow
the rules of inference or that violates them. This is a misleading
argument sometimes used to deceive people.
Reason – the use of argument. It is the main tool not only by
claimed philosophers but by every rational people.

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 Arguments often take
the form of statements
that are either claims of
fact and are phrased on
such a way that they
seem reasonable.

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

The following are examples of fallacies;
Formal - fallacy of composition
Informal - fallacy of division
- ad hominem - appeal to the popular
- appeal to force - appeal to tradition
- appeal to emotion - cause-and-effect
- begging the question
Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning
Division of Fallacies
1. Formal Fallacy – An error of logical form in
invalid argument which violates rule of
inference or the principles of deductive logic.
The basis of Aristotle’s deductive argument
was the syllogism, which has three parts; major
premise, minor premise and conclusion.
Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning
Formal Fallacies
Examples:
Major Premise – All humans are mortal.
Minor Premise – All Greeks are humans.
Conclusion – All Greeks are mortal.
In valid syllogisms, at least one of the two premises
must contain a universal form. Also one of the
premises must be alternative.
Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning
Formal Fallacies
Examples:
Some dogs are dangerous.
Some dangerous things are volcanoes.

But it does not follow that ‘some dogs are

volcanoes’

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

Division of Fallacies
1. Informal Fallacy – An argument whose
conclusion (a) is not adequately supported and
(b) does not necessarily have to be the
conclusion that can be drawn.
- Dr. Abella’s nine most common fallacies in his
book “Introduction to Philosophy of the Human”
Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning
 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

“Of course he believes

- directed against a
that the government is
ad hominem person rather than
flawed and he is a
the position they are
rebel and a
maintaining
communist!”

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example
“If this peace
- Using the threat of agreement will not be
force or an signed by the
appeal to force
undesirable event to government, then we
advance an will not have no
argument. recourse but go to
war.”
Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning
TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

“All these charges are

- Using an emotions baseless, this is just
appeal to such as pity or plain harassment –
emotion empathy. can’t you see how this
is affecting my family?”

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

- The idea was “Every boy your age

presented as already has girlfriend,
appeal to the
acceptable to people you should go find
popular
because a lot of one.”
people accept it.

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example
“Marriage should be
- The idea is between man and
acceptable because it woman. It has been so
appeal to
has been true for a for a long time in this
tradition
long time. country, it should
remain so today in the
future.”
Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning
 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

- Assuming the thing

“I have the right for
or the idea to be
begging the free speech, therefore
proven is true. Also
question you cannot stop me
known as “circular
from talking.”
reasoning”.

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

“Ever since you

- Assuming a cause
brought that sweater,
and effected
cause-and-effect everything has been
relationship between
going wrong on your
unrelated events.
life. You should get rid
of it.”

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

“These cases of
- Assuming that what robbery in district have
fallacy of is true of a part is true convinced me that his
composition for the whole. city become a den of
thieves and criminals.”

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 TYPES OF INFORMAL
FALLACIES
Fallacy Characteristics Example

“You come from a

- Assuming that what family of doctors and
fallacy of division is true of the whole is intellectuals! Surely
true for its parts. you can do better in
this course.”

Lesson: Fallacies In Reasoning

 REMEMBER
FALLACY is a misleading argument sometimes used to
deceive people, REASON is the use of argument.

1. Formal Fallacy – An 2. Informal Fallacy – An

error of logical form in argument whose
invalid argument which conclusion (a) is not
violates rule of adequately supported and
inference (b) does not necessarily
have to be the conclusion
REMEMBER
TYPES OF INFORMAL FALLCY
1. Ad hominem 6. Begging the Question
2. Appeal to Force 7. Cause-And-Effect
3. Appeal to Emotion 8. Fallacy of Composition
4. Appeal to the Popular 9. Fallacy of Division
5. Appeal to Tradition
Quiz
1. (True or False) The word
fallacy is from Spanish “fallacia”
which means “decit” or trick.
2. (R_____) is the use of argument.
3. (F____,I____) are the two types
of fallacy.
4. “All these charges are baseless, this is
just plain harassment –can’t you see
how this is affecting my family?”
a. Appeal to Tradition
b. Appeal to Emotion
c. Cause-And-Affect
5. “Marriage should be between man and
woman. It has been so for a long time in this
country, it should remain so today in the
future.”
a. Appeal to Tradition
b. Appeal to Emotion
c. Cause-And-Affect
1. False
2. Reason
3. Formal, Informal
4. B
5. A
 FALLACIES IN
REASONING
Introduction To Human Philosophy Of The Human Person
Module 5