READING ACTIVELY
Taking notes and asking questions as you read will help you understand the author’s points and develop a thoughtful response. As you read:
WATCHING FOR LOGICAL FALLACIES
As you read, look for examples of faulty reasoning. Certain kinds of errors in reasoning are so common that they have their own name: logical fallacies. Here are some of the most common examples of faulty reasoning:
Either/Or Extremes. Assuming that there are only two extreme choices with nothing in between.
| EXAMPLE: | My country, love it or leave it. [Faulty reasoning: Should people really either applaud everything a government does or move to a different country?] |
Bad Analogy. Comparing items or circumstances that are not enough alike to make a meaningful comparison.
| EXAMPLE: | A human fetus should have the same rights as a human adult. [Faulty reasoning: While some specific rights may be shared by a fetus and an adult, saying they should have all the same rights does not make sense because they are different in many ways. Should a fetus be able to vote, for example?] |
Circular Reasoning. Supporting a position by restating part of it.
| EXAMPLE: | I deserve a raise because I need to make more money. [Faulty reasoning: While this may be true, it will not persuade your boss. You need to offer reasons why you are worth more than you are being paid.] |
“Everyone Knows.” Appealing to people’s general desire to be like the majority by supporting a statement with a claim that all or most other people believe something. A common occurrence of this is when a child says to a parent, “Everybody else’s parents are letting them do X.” This kind of faulty reasoning is also called “the bandwagon effect.”
| EXAMPLE: | Everyone knows that Apple makes the best computers. [Faulty reasoning: While a certain brand of computer may be popular, it is not likely that all people would agree on a single brand being the best.] |
Mistaken Causes or Effects. Assuming that one thing caused another simply because it occurred beforehand.
| EXAMPLE: | The opening of the new liquor superwarehouse caused old Mr. Jones to close up his shop. [Faulty reasoning: Mr. Jones might have closed for a variety of reasons. Your assumption is not evidence of his real reason for closing.] |
Overgeneralization. Making a broad statement that is not supported by enough evidence.
| EXAMPLE: | Having grown up with three brothers, I know firsthand that boys are more violent than girls. [Faulty reasoning: A sample of one family is not enough to assume that all boys act in a particular way.] |
Oversimplification. Making something seem simple when it is not simple.
| EXAMPLE: | If more parking spaces were available on campus, most students would come to class. [Faulty reasoning: Students miss class for many reasons, so saying parking is the problem is too simple.] |