False Balance
False balance is a fallacy that is created by presenting two sides of an issue as balanced when clearly one side is more reasonable or broadly accepted.Some people thing the world is flat and others think it is approximately spherical.
False Dichotomy
A false dichotomy is an unjustified assertion that two things are mutually exclusive. This implies that trade-offs and sacrifices are inevitable when in fact win-win scenarios may exist.Saving the environment takes away jobs.
Whataboutism
A whataboutism is suggesting that one wrong is excusable because some other wrong exists.Why should we act to protect the environment when Japan is building new coal plants?
Anecdotal Evidence
Using statistically insignificant experiences as evidence to prove a point.Dog attacks are getting worse and worse. Last year, Ron a student at Chicago University, was attacked by a dog and just a week later a postal worker in the same area was attacked.
The argument above is proof by example whereby a broad claim is supported by examples that are statistically insignificant.
Misuse of Statistics
Presenting numbers despite a lack of analysis of the validity of these numbers. For example, falling for the base rate fallacy.This facial recognition technology has only a 1% false positive rate therefore it is very unlikely that that anyone would every be falsely accused of something due to the use of this technology by law enforcement.
A 1% false positive rate would result in 10,000,000 misidentifications for each billion scans.
Failure of Critical Analysis
Failing to challenge some obvious flaw in a line of reasoning. For example, failing to challenge invalid assumptions regarding cause and effect.The researchers found that people who surf at least 30 hours a week are more likely to be unemployed indicating that exposure to surf wax may lower motivation.
Cold Logic
Cold logic is a failure to cover human factors in your analysis where there are obvious human implications.By cutting the life-saving medicine from drug plans the company was able to boost net operating revenue by $14 million dollars.
| Overview: View From Nowhere | ||
Type | ||
Definition (1) | An attempt at objectivity that fails by being too detached from logic, mathematics, human factors or reality in general. | |
Definition (2) | A flawed simulation of an objective viewpoint. | |
Related Concepts | ||
