The motte and bailey fallacy can include coherent and logically sound points, but the strategy of shifting back and forth between two different claims is considered intellectually dishonest and makes an argument unsound overall. In other words, using this strategy is considered an informal logical fallacy.
Continue reading: Can a motte and bailey argument be valid?
The motte and bailey fallacy and the straw man fallacy both involve misrepresenting an argument, but the main difference lies in their tactics:
Continue reading: What is the difference between the straw man fallacy and the motte and bailey fallacy?
The term “motte and bailey” originates from the fortifications of medieval castles. A motte (a raised mound) provided a strong, defensible position, while a bailey (an enclosed courtyard) offered more accessible but less defensible space.
The motte and bailey fallacy is named after this castle design because, like the tactic of switching between an easily defensible position (the motte) and a more vulnerable but easier to access position (the bailey), it involves switching between extreme and moderate positions in an argument.
Continue reading: What does the term motte and bailey mean?
The amphiboly fallacy involves using the confusing syntax of a sentence to prove a point. Whereas many logical fallacies result from reasoning errors, the amphiboly fallacy stems directly from linguistic ambiguity—whether due to a mistake or an intentional misuse of language.
Its name is based on the term “amphiboly”: syntactic ambiguity that results in a sentence having multiple possible interpretations.
Continue reading: What is the amphiboly fallacy?
A fallacy of ambiguity occurs when an argument relies on ambiguous language or unclear definitions to mislead. These fallacies often exploit the vagueness or multiple meanings of terms to make an argument seem strong when it is not.
Fallacies in this category include the following:
Continue reading: What are fallacies of ambiguity?
The word “amphiboly” is pronounced am-FIH-buh-lee (IPA: /æmˈfɪbəli/).
It is the name of a linguistic error as well as a logical fallacy (i.e., the amphiboly fallacy).
Continue reading: How do you pronounce amphiboly?
A major premise is one of the two premises in a syllogism. It is a broad statement expressing a generalization or a principle accepted as true. The major premise always comes first in a syllogism and contains the predicate of the conclusion.
For example, in the syllogism “All dogs have fur. Fido is a dog. Therefore, Fido has fur”, the major premise is “All dogs have fur”.
Continue reading: What is a major premise?
Having tolerance for ambiguity means being comfortable with uncertain and unclear situations. It involves the ability to accept, or even embrace, situations with multiple possible interpretations or outcomes.
The opposite is black-and-white thinking, the tendency to view people, situations, and ideas in absolute terms.
Continue reading: What does it mean to have tolerance for ambiguity?
The Ethics of Ambiguity is a book by feminist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. It explores existentialist ethics, focusing on the ambiguity inherent in human existence and challenging the idea of absolute truths.
Continue reading: What is “The Ethics of Ambiguity”?
Ambiguity is pronounced am-bih-GYOO-ih-tee (/ˌæm.bɪˈɡjuː.ɪ.ti/). Understanding ambiguity is an essential part of critical thinking and helps avoid logical fallacies such as the equivocation fallacy and the motte and bailey fallacy.
Continue reading: How do you pronounce ambiguity?
