PHILOS 2CT3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Modus Tollens, Modus Ponens, Begging The Question
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Chapter 4. 5: common formal fallacies a formal fallacy occurs when an invalid argument form or structure is taken to be valid: affirming the consequent. Ex: if you are thinking of a chair, then you are thinking. You are thinking, therefore you are thinking of a chair. Occurs when there is a fallacy in modus ponens. When the wrong component is affirmed: denying the antecedent. Therefore, it is not the case of q. Ex: if you"re thinking of a chair, then you"re thinking. You"re not thinking of a chair, therefore you are not thinking. Occurs in a formal fallacy of modus tollens. When the wrong component is denied: affirming a dijunct. Therefore it is not the case of q. Ex: either we"re going to the play or to the game. We"re going to the game, therefore we"re not going to the play.