By definition, any argument that contains faulty reasoning is termed a logical fallacy. Most logical fallacies are arguments seem psychologically convincing, but are weak logically. Most importantly, a logical fallacy makes people accept certain arguments and conclusions that would ordinarily not be easily acceptable as valid (Doss et al. 2014). This paper discusses some logical fallacies and how they affect criminal justice.
Argumentum ad hominem
The argumentum ad hominem is the argument directed at a particular person.
The ad hominem is considered a fallacy that neither the speaker's character nor the circumstances reveal any facts concerning the validity or the invalidity of the argument… Continue Reading...
Assignment 1
Logical fallacies are everywhere, and can be surprisingly persuasive to those who are unaware of their existence. One logical fallacy is red herring, which throws in a random, unrelated idea to throw off the audience. For example, a recent article criticized the anti-gun protesters not because they were violent but because they were “rude to adults.” A more effective means of engaging the protesters would have been to have a reasoned argument based on their actual political points of view. Saying they were “rude” has nothing to do with the… Continue Reading...
why they believe what they do. The greatest challenge in argumentation is recognizing which logical fallacies are coming in the way of a constructive solution to a problem. Likewise, it can be difficult to convince a person who does not recognize that appeals to authority or other common fallacies are actually flaws in their reasoning.
One example of how thinking logically and constructing good arguments will be helpful in my career is when presenting novel ideas and persuading others to take action. While appeals to emotion can be useful, a more effective and universal approach would be to break down my argument first to… Continue Reading...
structure, I score much higher—between a 4 and a 5. This element has to do with recognizing logical fallacies. Whether in advertising (where I seem to notice them the most) or in conversations with friends, logical fallacies abound. Recognizing and tracing them can be hard, but a little practice has made me much better able to see where an argument is weak and how to strengthen it.
Next, we have the construction of sound arguments. Following from the previous element, this item refers to how well I am capable of breaking down my thoughts, recognizing biases and assumptions,… Continue Reading...
culture of active intellectual inquiry and fairness.
Impediments to critical thinking include various types of egocentrism, which lead to logical fallacies. For example, egocentric thinking leads to the belief that something is true simply because one wants it to be true, or because their social circle claims it to be true. Aligning one’s thinking according to one’s social group or culture—known as sociocentric thinking—also impedes critical thinking. The authors urge readers to help promote a critical society—a society in which critical thinking is normative. To promote a critical society, critical thinking has to be consistently taught and ingrained. Paul & Elder (2016) therefore offer several concise and specific insights… Continue Reading...
who struggle socially can improve self-efficacy and resilience and avoid the types of logical fallacies and dysfunctional self-concepts that lead to either bullying behavior… Continue Reading...
