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A Closer Look at Logos

ENGL102 Ordover Fall 2008. A Closer Look at Logos. Syllogism, Enthymeme, and Logical Fallacies. If A = B and B = C, then A = C. What is a syllogism?. a specific method of logical deduction (moving from the general to the particular) every syllogism contains at least three parts:

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A Closer Look at Logos

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  1. ENGL102 Ordover Fall 2008 A CloserLook at Logos Syllogism, Enthymeme,and Logical Fallacies

  2. If A = B and B = C, then A = C What is a syllogism? • a specific method of logical deduction(moving from the general to the particular)every syllogism contains at least three parts: • a major premise (global assumption) • a minor premise (specific claim) • a conclusion • It’s kind of like simple math…

  3. all men are mortal (major premise) (minor premise) Socrates is a man An example of a syllogism (conclusion) Socrates is mortal

  4. all men are mortal all things mortal men Socrates is a man Socrates Socrates is mortal A visual representation

  5. all mammals have hair (major premise) (minor premise) fish do not have hair An example of a syllogism (conclusion) fish are not mammals

  6. all mammals have hair all things with hair fish do not have hair mammals fish A visual representation fish are not mammals

  7. All women are bad drivers. bad drivers woman Jean is a woman. Jean Jean is a bad driver. A visual representation This example is for educational purposes and does not reflect the opinions of the instructor nor of The University of Arizona.

  8. What is an enthymeme? • sometimes called a “truncated syllogism” • a syllogism without stating either the major or minor premise (it is implied) • less formal than the syllogism • sometimes more persuasive

  9. An example of an enthymeme We cannot trust this man because he has perjured himself in the past. Enthymemes are often “because” statements.

  10. Those who perjure themselves cannot be trusted. (major premise) This man perjured himself in the past. (minor premise) (conclusion) This man cannot be trusted. The syllogism behind this enthymeme…

  11. Enthymemes are sometimes used to hide the underlying assumption upon which an argument is based. Find it and challenge it. Beware. Think Critically.

  12. What are the unstated assumptions? • I failed that course because the instructor didn’t like me. Assumption: The instructor fails students he doesn’t like. • I’m not surprised he made the team. After all, his father is the superintendent of schools. Assumption: The superintendent gives special favors to his family • If I’d only taken my boss to lunch more often, I could have gotten that raise. Assumption: The boss denies raises to people who don’t take him to lunch very often.

  13. Logical Fallacies Avoiding the Pitfalls ofGood Reasoning

  14. Looking at the Negative Space We can learn much about logic by studying that which is not logical—examples of where logic breaks down, logical fallacies.

  15. examples • false dilemma • straw man • anonymous authority • prejudicial language What is a logical fallacy? • mistakes we make in logic when presenting our arguments

  16. example example Either you’re for me or against me. America—love it or leave it. False Dilemma • a limited number of options (usually two) is given, while in reality thereare more options.

  17. example People who oppose war in Iraq probably just don’t like G.W. Bush. But we want an offensive action against Iraq to protect the world. Straw Man • the author attacks an argument which is different from, and usually weaker than, the opposition’s best argument.

  18. example Studies show that left-handed people are more intelligent than right-handed people. Anonymous authority • the author refers to some source of authority but does not name the source nor explain its legitimacy

  19. example All good Americans support the views of the president of the United States. Right-minded people will surely agree with that. Prejudicial language • the author uses language that attacks a person for having contrary views; this attack may be subtle but shifts the focus away from the issue

  20. Don’t let your beliefs or common knowledgeblind you to faulty logic. True vs. valid arguments • true argument =an argument with a conclusion that people commonly consider to be fact based on their worldly experience or wide-spread belief • valid argument =an argument with a conclusion that logically follows its underlying assumption regardless of whether the assumption is true or not

  21. all vegetables beets Is this true, valid, or both? • All vegetables are green.Beets are vegetables.Therefore, beets are green. good logic, but a faulty assumption:valid but not true

  22. humanbeings all things immortal Is this true, valid, or both? • No human being is immortal.God is not a human being.Therefore, God is immortal. faulty logic but, according to many people’s beliefs, a true statement: invalid argument, but a true conclusion (according to many people’s beliefs) God

  23. plants Is this true, valid, or both? • All weeds are plants.A flower is a plant.Therefore, all weeds are flowers. Remember, in all valid deductive arguments the conclusion is a necessary consequence of the premises. The conclusion here does not logically follow as a necessary consequence; therefore this argument is invalid. weeds flowers

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