Fallacy Summary and Application Abstract Throughout this paper, we will discuss the relative meanings of fallacies and the importance they have in regards to critical thinking and the decision-making processes. Within the process of critical thinking, fallacies tend to play a very large part of this process. By definition, a fallacy is a statement or an argument based on a false or invalid reference (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language). As you will read on further into this paper, we will begin to define the significance that fallacies play with the role of critical thinking and decision-making. Fallacy Summary and Application From the master list of logical fallacies, I have chosen four different fallacies in which I will go into detail and discuss further. As I mentioned in the abstract, fallacies play a key role in the critical thinking and decision-making processes. We use fallacies everyday to persuade individuals to one side of an argument versus the other. We also use fallacies to appeal to people in different ways such as emotions, authority, and ignorance. The four fallacies that I will be discussing throughout this paper are the slippery slope fallacy, the false dilemma fallacy, the post hoc ergo propter fallacy, and the straw man fallacy. Slippery Slope Fallacy We can recognize a great deal of importance when dealing with the slippery slope fallacy. In business, it becomes very important for us to realize that there are no gray areas or in between areas. When dealing with business, many times our decisions and the critical thinking process is well defined and clear cut. On the other hand, are they really that clear cut? Are they really that defined? In an article by K.B. Battaglini (... ... middle of paper ... ...ould have a large amount of businesses that are unsuccessful because they are not taking the time to make educated and informed decisions about their problems or issues. The more time you put into the critical thinking process to evaluate your position, the better off you will be when it is time to make those urgent decisions. References U. Connecticut: EDITORIAL: Capitalism vs. socialism: A false dilemma. (2003, May 6). Financial Times Information Ltd., pNA, Retrieved January 22, 2005, from InfoTrac database. Battaglini, K.B. (2004). Slippery slope: the trail from puffery to fraud: do you know the difference between puffery and deception? Franchising World, 36(10), 30-32. Retrieved January 22, 2005, from InfoTrac database.
A straw man fallacy, in its most lucid form, is executed when a person not only disregards an opponent’s counterarguments, but also distorts them into exaggerated versions of themselves in the interest of making them easier to refute. In many cases, the adversary’s arguments are skewed to such a severe point that they wind up being completely different than what the adversaries were actually fighting for; however, this is all for the convenience of the proponent. An innumerable amount of politicians and authors are infamous for using this problematic method of disproving opposing arguments, even notable celebrities like George W. Bush. The straw man method of persuasion is a proficient way to make a personal stance sound factual, but it
informed prior to our conclusions and decisions. Critical thinking is not to be used as a tool to
A fallacy is defined as a failure in reasoning that renders an argument invalid, faulty reasoning, or a misleading or unsound argument. There are many kinds of fallacies and even websites devoted to describing the various kinds of logical fallacies. Fallacies, though, are slippery little fiends, which do not hesitate to creep in even where they are unwanted. No one wants their argument proved false, but careful, critical readers can spot these shifty deceivers. On the website of the Center for American Progress, there is an article – authored by Catherine Brown and Ulrich Boser – called “The DeVos Family Dynasty.” This article is a poor example of persuasive communication because there are many cases of ad hominem fallacy, the authors repeatedly
Every day, living creatures are making decisions. Whether the decisions are big or small, they have to be made. As the decisions are performed, there is a process that one goes through. Different types of thinking styles and thought processes are available. The way one feels, believes, attitudes, and relating ideas can play a big part in their thinking styles. Various methods of thinking and thinking styles are used. In this paper the subject is to discuss is three different types of thinking styles. The three different styles discussed will be creative, pessimistic, and optimistic thinking. Creative, pessimistic, and optimistic thinking are three different ways a person can critically analyze any situation. This paper will compare and contrast the three different styles and discuss how each affects the critical thinking process. It will also include critical thinking in the decision- making process by incorporating the discussion on workplace examples that entails the three different types of thinking styles examined. After reading this paper, one will have a full understanding of these thinking styles and the decision making process. Lastly how one may think and how that contributes to their decision process will also be evident.
During the first week of class we discussed informal fallacies. An informal fallacy is defined as a logical mistake. Five of the informal fallacies discussed were equivocation, ad hominem, straw man, appeal to authority, and secundum. Each of these fallacies are comparable to what happens in everyday life conversations. Through analyzing, one should be able to determine how these fallacies connect with our everyday lives.
Life is full of decisions. Some decisions are trivial. Should I choose paper or plastic at the grocery store? Which of the 31 flavors of ice cream should I pick? Other decisions are vital. Should I get married to her or should I take this new job? Your decisions may affect many people or only yourself. In this paper I will present a decision-making model. I will describe a decision that I made at work using this model and how critical thinking impacted that decision.
“Socialism.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 30 Jan. 2012. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 2 Feb. 2012. .
Lynn Harsh (Nov. 2002). ‘Capitalism – A Deal with the Devil?’. Retrieved on Mar. 23 from:
Everyone can imagine a time where they were in an argument being fair, amiable and reasonable and their opponent is replying to those statements, unfairly or unrelated. Or vise versa. Whether it be in a relationship, group discussions or in society as a whole. These unfair or unrelated statements are examples of logical fallacies, common errors in reasoning that can undermine a logical argument. In reality, these logical fallacies are dangerous and can be destructive in an argument. Logical fallacies aren’t just limited to reality they are also found in fiction. Fallacies aren’t as scarce as one may think, and in order to identify a fallacy, one must carefully consider the multiple types of fallacies first. Simple identifiers, like the slippery slope fallacy that states that an argument an action is taken to the extreme.
The world’s economies continue to be divided on by whom their means of production benefit, supply, enrich, and protect. Many debates and altercations have been a result of disagreements between capitalists and socialists. Socialists believe the government is essential in providing equality for all and the allocation of capital goods. But the strength of capitalism can be attributed to an incentive structure based upon the three P’s: (1) prices determined by market forces, (2) a profit-and-loss system of accounting and (3) private property rights. The failure of socialism can be traced to its neglect of these three incentive-enhancing components. (Perry) Socialism gives power to the government to regulate the goods produced, the amount of goods produced, where the goods are distributed, and the price of the goods. This command system does not allow for the creativity, wealth, and freedom that capitalism supplies the citizens. Capitalism provides a market system that permits companies to regulate the economies themselves. Capitalism offers the world’s economy the freedom to manage itself, diversify, prosper, fail, and freedom from regulation in order to supply the world based on demand and creativity. Capitalism is the only social system that rewards merit, ability and achievement, regardless of one’s birth or station in life. Capitalism is the only social system that rewards virtue and punishes vice. This applies to both the business executive and the carpenter, the lawyer, and the factory worker. (Thomson) Capitalism is the world’s dominant economic system. Within it, the means of production and distribution are owned by individuals: private ownership and free enterprise are believed to lead to more efficiency, lower prices, be...
Thinking critically and making decisions are important parts of today’s business environment. It is important to understand how the decision making process works and the steps involved. The nine steps of the decision making process are: identifying the problem, defining criteria, setting goals and objectives, evaluating the effect of the problem, identifying the causes of the problem, framing alternatives, evaluating impacts of the alternatives, making the decision, implementing the decision, and measuring the impacts. (Decision, 2007.) By using various methods and tools to assist in making important business decisions an individual can ensure the decisions they make will be as successful as possible. In this paper it will be examined how the decision making process can be followed using various tools and techniques to make successful business decisions by using these same tools and techniques during a thinking critically business scenario. The paper will also discuss how different tools and techniques could have been used to make different, yet still successful decisions.
Fallacies reference to the weak arguments by learning or hearing some different terms could be an error. It is crucial to understand the concept of the logical fallacies, without understating the point of the arguments the arguments might turn to be weak instant of being persuasive. In order to attempting someone we need first to identify the problem and avoid the confusion. Most of the common argument are not strong and feeble to be the point. Sometimes the Fallacies argument can be persuasive at least to the casual reader or the listener. For example, the fallacious argument like newspaper or advertisements. Some argument could have strong or weak points, But it not necessary to be truth, the argument could be completely wrong but it 's has a point. The most important point is the value of the arguments also the quality of the arguments are needed to show that the arguments are accurate. For example, the media always have fallacious arguments, some of their points are really good and make so much sense. However, most of the rumors, starts by the broadcaster, and they are weak arguments, but some more rumors able to spread faster even when it is feeble and pity. There are five logical fallacies we were taking in the class.
Facing a situation, you have to decide. For example, the fire surrounds you: What do you do? Jump through the windows and risk to kill yourself or to wait the firemen and risk to be burned to death if they come to late? Every decision that we make or don’t make shapes our future. Everyone tries to make good decisions. However, it is easy to overlook an important factor, miss a desirable option, or base the decision on unreliable information. In addition, fear of making a wrong choice can cause someone to postpone decisions, leading to miss opportunities. A businessperson must have the ability to make decisions under the pressure of time and circumstances. This ability needs a good knowledge of the decision making process.
Critical thinking and decision-making are related in more ways than people think. This paper will define critical thinking and decision-making according to the book Whatever It Takes. It will also present a personal definition of critical thinking and decision-making from the author of this paper. The relationship between the two will be explained as well as the benefits of being a critical thinker. The author of this paper will also show how critical thinking is present in his organization and how he implements critical thinking techniques on a daily basis.
...sion making process. One may believe that a quick decision is a good, but often when one looks deeper into the facts involved he finds that more problems are present because an important decision was rushed. In the case of Valley Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Inc., critical thinking in the decision making process of daily service calls prevents costly errors.