Fallacious reasoning occurs when an individual puts up an argument that may seem logical at first but when prove flawed when scrutinized.
Fallacious reasoning occurs when an individual puts up an argument that may seem logical at first but when prove flawed when scrutinized. Therefore, a fallacy is an error in reasoning that occurs when an individual fails to substantiate or establish the point that they are supporting or developing. There are various forms of fallacious reasoning. Fallacies can take the form of formal or informal fallacies. Formal fallacies are structural flaws in an argument. Informal fallacies have sophistication since they occur when there is a flaw in the content of the debate. Informal fallacies take the form of fallacies of relevance, fallacies of ambiguity. A relevance fallacy occurs when there is a flaw in reasoning. In this form of fallacy, the individual loses track of the argument and puts up a case that is not congruent to the conclusion (Moore & Parker, 2020). This post will employ a provided conversation between Bill and Jill to discuss fallacious reasoning, particularly fallacy of relevance.
Bill tells Jill that students of this generation are sloppy and disinterested in education. When Jill asks Bill to offer a rationale for his claim, Bill argues that they used to work hard when they were students. Bill commits the fallacy of irrelevant conclusion. This form of fallacious reasoning is also known as ignoratio elenchi. Bill failed to answer the question by Jill. Bill drifts away from the argument by failing to offer evidence for his statement about the students of this generation being sloppy. The fact that the students of Bill’s age were hardworking does not substantiate his claim that the students of this generation are lazy and disinterested in learning. The fallacy of irrelevant conclusion occurs when the individual misses the point of the argument. The argument could be valid or invalid logically. However, the debate in an irrelevant conclusion fallacy is incongruent with the question at stake. In the provided conversation, Bill’s answer does not answer Jill’s question. Bill brings in a new idea that is out of line with Jill’s question.
To evade the fallacy of irrelevant conclusion, Bill should have provided evidence for his claims based on his observations or readings on the current generation (Moore & Parker, 2020). For example, Bill would have argued that today’s students are lazy and disinterested in learning because they spend a substantial amount of time on their phones, and they do not go to the library as much as students did from the past generations. This argument would have substantiated Bill’s claim without drifting from the course of the discussion or bringing in the previous generation to discredit today’s students. The evidence that students of this generation are lazy and disinterested in their education since they spend too much time on their phones and seldom go to the library is logical and answers Jill’s initial question without diverting.
In conclusion, the fallacy of irrelevant conclusion occurs when the speaker misses the point of the argument. An individual can avoid this fallacy by addressing the issue at stake without diverting from the point.
Answer preview to fallacious reasoning occurs when an individual puts up an argument that may seem logical at first but when prove flawed when scrutinized.
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