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Name that logical fallacy

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eliotn Posted: Sun, Sep 14 2008 7:31 PM

Since the mises website has a lot of discussions, I decided to start a game, name that logical fallacy.

The rules:
Name the fallacys that the previous poster uses in their argument(s).  Then, post your own argument(s) that contain a logical fallicy.

1.  (In response to the anarchist)  Anarchy sucks!  If we had anarchy, people would run around and kill each other.  We need a government to remain a society.

2.  Gas prices are going up because the oil companies are price-gouging.

3.  (In response to minimum wage)  Your argument is false, because you have never been poor before.

4.  Since Obama supports war, all democrats support war.

5.  Since most people accept government, government is right.

Schools are labour camps.

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eliotn:

Since the mises website has a lot of discussions, I decided to start a game, name that logical fallacy.

The rules:
Name the fallacys that the previous poster uses in their argument(s).  Then, post your own argument(s) that contain a logical fallicy.

1.  (In response to the anarchist)  Anarchy sucks!  If we had anarchy, people would run around and kill each other.  We need a government to remain a society.

argumentum ad metum/consequentiam

 

eliotn:
2.  Gas prices are going up because the oil companies are price-gouging.

Non sequitur

 

eliotn:
3.  (In response to minimum wage)  Your argument is false, because you have never been poor before.

Argumentum ad hominem

 

eliotn:
4.  Since Obama supports war, all democrats support war.

Composition fallacy.

 

eliotn:
5.  Since most people accept government, government is right.

Argumentum ad numerum

 

"If we didn't have a government to keep businesses in line, there would be nothng but monopolies which would try to poison everyone, and everyone would be poor."

 

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Sphairon replied on Sun, Sep 14 2008 8:48 PM

Knight_of_BAAWA:

"If we didn't have a government to keep businesses in line, there would be nothng but monopolies which would try to poison everyone, and everyone would be poor."



Petitio principii: it is assumed in the premise that business will do bad ("get out of line") if not restrained. "If businesses are not kept from doing bad, they will do bad".

It can also be interpreted an appeal to emotion and a non sequitur. Smile



"Well, government has been screwing up big time for quite a while, but that raises the probability for it doing something worthwhile next time."


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eliotn replied on Sun, Sep 14 2008 9:19 PM

Sphairon:


"Well, government has been screwing up big time for quite a while, but that raises the probability for it doing something worthwhile next time."

Gambler's Fallacy, that something repeatedly happening that deviates from the expected norm increases the possibility of something happening that is the expected norm.

 

Since Liberterians are so extremely anti-government, and pro-free market, they must be wrong.

 

 

Schools are labour camps.

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Ben Stein said this the other day.

 

"The problem is not Washington.  The problem is human nature."

 

Of course, he called for more regulations and empowering government.

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fakename replied on Sun, Sep 14 2008 10:19 PM

"Since Liberterians are so extremely anti-government, and pro-free market, they must be wrong."

 

Red Herring since our correctness on any one question (like free trade or 1+1=2) is not necessarily tied to our anti-government ideals. That is, even if we are wrong about free-markets it still doesn't necessitate that unrestricted trade is a bad idea.

 

My fallacy: Capitalism produces elites which centralizes wealth. It thereby oppresses mankind.

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Actually, it's poisoning the well/general ad hominem.

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eliotn replied on Sun, Sep 14 2008 10:30 PM

Since nobody put a new argument up, I will:

Whenever I play games, I become worse behaved.  Therefore, the games cause my bad behavior.

I got a chain letter in the mail.  I did not continue the chain, in spite of its threats.  The next day, a brick fell on my head.  This was caused by that stupid chain letter.

Schools are labour camps.

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Solomon replied on Mon, Sep 15 2008 12:07 AM

eliotn:

Whenever I play games, I become worse behaved.  Therefore, the games cause my bad behavior.

I got a chain letter in the mail.  I did not continue the chain, in spite of its threats.  The next day, a brick fell on my head.  This was caused by that stupid chain letter.

 

Both are post hoc ergo propter hoc.

Education is key to getting ahead in life.  Those who wish to oppress the poor are against their being educated. Therefore, anyone who is against public education wishes to oppress the poor.

Diminishing Marginal Utility - IT'S THE LAW!

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Strawman.

"How can you say taxes and regulations impede progress? Look how much richer the world is today, and how much higher taxes are! If it weren't for taxes and regulations workers would be dying anonymously in industrial pits! ...and what about the children!!!?"

-Jon

To darkness I condemn you...

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eliotn replied on Mon, Sep 15 2008 1:36 PM

Jon Irenicus:
How can you say taxes and regulations impede progress? Look how much richer the world is today, and how much higher taxes are! If it weren't for taxes and regulations workers would be dying anonymously in industrial pits!

Could be considered affirming the consequent, or correlation does not imply causitation.

I remember this from a comic:

"Penguins are black and white.  Old TV shows are black and white.  Therefore, penguins are old TV shows."

Minimum wage is good because workers get paid more.

Evolution is a lie because the bible said so, and the bible is always right.

In this particular discussion, ad hominem is the most commonly used fallacy.  Therefore, ad hominem is the most commonly used fallacy in every discussion

Schools are labour camps.

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Philemon replied on Mon, Sep 15 2008 8:23 PM

[Ahem]Pro causa. [Ahem]

Ahem!

Okay, I'l play.

 

Penguins: Undistributed middle.

 

Minimum wage: Lump of labor.

 

Evolution: Argumentum ad verecundiam.

 

Ad Hominem: Hasty generalization.

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eliotn replied on Wed, Sep 17 2008 7:38 PM

If we get rid of government, the market will underprovide public goods, get hung up on externalities, and fail.

Schools are labour camps.

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