Western Logic Formal Fallacy Part 1for NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.
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Complete Video at - Western Logic - Formal Fallacy: Two Negative Premises (Philosophy)
Formal Fallacy
- Formal fallacies are those mistakes or errors which occur in the form of the argument.
- In other words, formal fallacies concern themselves with the form or the structure of the argument.
- Formal fallacies are present when there is a structural error in a deductive argument.
- It is important to note that formal fallacies always occur in a deductive argument.
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The Fallacy of Two Negative Premises
- The fallacy of two Negative Premises is also known as the fallacy of Exclusive premises.
- This fallacy occurs when a conclusion is drawn from two negative premises.
- In Deductive arguments, two negative premises cannot result in a conclusion or cannot have a conclusion.
- For example,
- No cats are dogs
- Some pets are not cats
- Therefore, some pets are not dogs
- Here, the major premise- No cats are dogs is an E proposition which is negative and universal in nature.
- The minor premise is Some pets are not cats- it is an O proposition which is negative and particular in nature.
- So, the two premises, major and minor are both negative in nature.
- As a result, no conclusion can be drawn from these two.
Fallacy of Drawing an Affirmative Conclusion from a Negative Premise
- This fallacy occurs when we draw an affirmative or a positive conclusion from a negative premise.
- In other words, it means, if one of the premise of an argument is negative, then, the conclusion has to be negative in nature.
- It cannot be positive.
- For instance, the major premise is negative and the minor premise is affirmative. Hence, the conclusion of a valid syllogism has to be negative.
- Similarly, if the major premise is positive, the minor premise is negative, then the conclusion has to be negative.
- For Example,
- No potters are accountants
- Some are girls are potters
- Therefore, some girls are accountants
- Here, the major premise is an E proposition which is negative in nature.
- The minor premise is an I proposition which is positive in nature and the conclusion is also an I proposition and positive in nature.
- Hence, this argument is invalid for it commits the fallacy of drawing an affirmative conclusion from a negative premise.
The Existential Fallacy
- The existential fallacy is also known as the fallacy where a particular conclusion is drawn from two universal premises.
- In other words, it means, when the two premises are universal (either A or E) , then a particular premise is not possible (either I or O) .
- For example,
- All pets are domestic animals
- No tigers are domestic animals
- Therefore, some tigers are not pets
- Here, the major premise of the argument is a universal A proposition.
- The minor premise of the syllogism is universal E proposition.
- The conclusion of the syllogism is particular O proposition.
- This syllogism is invalid because it commits existential fallacy.
- No particular conclusion is possible from two universal premises
Important Points
- Formal fallacies occur only in deductive arguments.
- Formal fallacies occur due to the problem in the form or the structure of the argument.
- There are six kinds of formal fallacies.
- In Fallacy of four terms, no argument in logic can have more or less than three terms. The only three terms of a valid argument are major term, middle term and minor term.
- Undistributed middle term fallacy occurs when the middle term remains undistributed in both the premises, major and minor.
- In order to avoid, the fallacy of undistributed middle term, the middle term must be distributed in at least one of the two premises, either major premise or minor premise.
- Two negative premises cannot have a conclusion. It is known as Exclusive fallacy and fallacy of two negative premises.
- If both the premises are universal then a particular premise is not possible. If it occurs, it is the fallacy, it is called, existential fallacy.
Mcq
1. Fallacy of Exclusive premises is another name of the fallacy
Options:
A. Two negative premises
B. Drawing an affirmative conclusion from a negative premise
C. Existential fallacy
D. None of these
Answer: A
2.In order to avoid, the fallacy of undistributed middle term, the middle term must be distributed in
Options:
A. Both the premises; major and minor.
B. At least one of the two premises, either major premise or minor premise.
C. Only in major premise
D. None of these
Answer: B
3. ________ fallacy occurs where a particular conclusion is drawn from two universal premises.
Options:
A. Exclusive
B. Existential
C. Both A and B
D None of these
Answer: B
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✍ Manishika