Tutorial on Argument and Fallacy

Astronuc

I stumbled across this and thought some might find it useful.

http://www.infidels.org/library/mode...hew/logic.html

and this as well

The Argument Clinic - http://www.infidels.org/library/mode...sn-python.html

The objective of argument or disputation is not only take an opposing position, but to provide evidence to support one's position. Otherwise, as is pointed out in the MP sketch, it's simply contradiction.

Schrodinger's Dog

That's cool, I use wikipedia for logical fallacies, it's got some really great posts about them, and they are logical which makes a change for wikipedia, I accused Vanesch of being guilty of one not two weeks ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modus_ponens

In relation to MWI as the theory assumes QT is correct I don't think he agreed though.

Moridin

Here is one that they missed:

Fallacy of Stolen Concept - An argument where your argument against the truth value of something implicitly demands that you accept the truth value of the thing you are trying to disprove in order to disprove it, making the argument incoherent and contradictory.

ex.

- "Language is meaningless" - If language is meaningless, then the statement "language is meaningless" is itself meaningless. When making the argument, you presuppose the meaningfulness of language.
- "Truth does not exist" - If there is no such thing as truth, then it cannot possibly be true that there is no such thing as truth.
- "I do not exist" - The speaker makes a statement about herself, and as such, presumes her own existence.
- "Reality is an illusion" - The very concept "illusion" is derived from the concept "reality"; that is, the concept "illusion" makes absolutely no sense, unless there is indeed "reality" with which it may be contrasted"

etc.

LightbulbSun

Don't tell those to the new agers. They thrive on these concepts.

mheslep

Fallacyfiles.org does a lot of categorization of the various fallacies.

lisab

And when debating with someone who repeatedly relies on fallacious arguments despite your best efforts to point out the error in their logic, it's best to take the upper road and refrain from sending them here.