fallacy :: essays research papers

Description of FallaciesIn order to understand what a fallacy is, whiz must understand what an argument is. Very briefly, an argument consists of one or more premises and one terminus. A premise is a statement (a sentence that is either true or false) that is offered in support of the exact being made, which is the conclusion (which is also a sentence that is either true or false). There are two main types of arguments deductive and inductive. A deductive argument is an argument such that the premises succeed (or come out to provide) complete support for the conclusion. An inductive argument is an argument such that the premises provide (or appear to provide) some degree of support (but less than complete support) for the conclusion. If the premises actually provide the required degree of support for the conclusion, then the argument is a intimately one. A good deductive argument is known as a valid argument and is such that if all its premises are true, then its conclusion mu st be true. If all the argument is valid and actually has all true premises, then it is known as a sound argument. If it is invalid or has one or more false premises, it will be unsound. A good inductive argument is known as a strong (or " persuasive") inductive argument. It is such that if the premises are true, the conclusion is likely to be true. A fallacy is, very generally, an error in reasoning. This differs from a factual error, which is hardly being wrong about the facts. To be more specific, a fallacy is an "argument" in which the premises given for the conclusion do not provide the needed degree of support. A deductive fallacy is a deductive argument that is invalid (it is such that it could have all true premises and nonoperational have a false conclusion).