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Argument from fallacy is the formal fallacy of analyzing an argument and inferring that, since it contains a fallacy, its conclusion must be false.[1] It is also called argument to logic (argumentum ad logicam), fallacy fallacy,[2] or fallacist's fallacy.[3] Fallacious arguments can arrive at true conclusions, so this is an informal fallacy of relevance.[4]
Form It has the general argument form: - If P, then Q.
- P is a fallacious argument.
- Therefore, Q is false.[5]
- c since A
- A is fallacious
- c
Thus, it is a special case of denying the antecedent where the antecedent, rather than being a proposition that is false, is an entire argument that is fallacious. A fallacious argument, just as with a false antecedent, can still have a consequent that happens to be true. The fallacy is in concluding the consequent of a fallacious argument has to be false. That the argument is fallacious only means that the argument cannot succeed in proving its consequent.[6] But showing how one argument in a complex thesis is fallaciously reasoned does not necessarily invalidate the proof; the complete proof could still logically imply its conclusion if that conclusion is not dependent on the fallacy: Examples Examples: - Tom: All cats are animals. Ginger is an animal. This means Ginger is a cat.
- Bill: Ah, you just committed the affirming the consequent logical fallacy. Sorry, you are wrong, which means that Ginger is not a cat.
- Tom: OK I'll prove I'm English I speak English so that proves it.
- Bill: But Americans and Canadians, among others, speak English too. You have committed the package-deal fallacy, assuming that speaking English and being English always go together. That means you are not English.
Both Bill's rebuttals are arguments from fallacy, because Ginger may or may not be a cat, and Tom may or may not be English. Of course, the mere fact that one can invoke the argument from fallacy against a position does not automatically "prove" one's own position either, as this would itself be yet another argument from fallacy. An example of this false reasoning follows: - Joe: Bill's assumption that Ginger is not a cat uses the argument from fallacy. Therefore, Ginger absolutely must be a cat.
An argument using fallacious reasoning is capable of being consequentially correct. Further Argumentum ad logicam can be used as an ad hominem appeal: by impugning the opponent's credibility or good faith it can be used to sway the audience by undermining the speaker, rather than addressing the speaker's argument.[3] See also References Further reading - Fallacy Fallacy The Fallacy Files
- David Hackett Fischer, Historians' Fallacies: Toward a Logic of Historical Thought Harper & Row, 1970, pp. 305 306.
el: es:Argumento ad logicam fa: lt:Argumentas i logikos hu:Argumentum ad logicam ro:Argument din eroare logic fi:Argumentum ad logicam tr:Argumentum ad logicam
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