Converse Error: Difference between revisions

Has nothing to do with shoes.

 

 

:: This claim is most simply put as:

 

Therefore, A. }}

 

:: It's a fallacy because at no point is it shown that A is the ''only'' possible cause of B; therefore, even if B is true, A can still be false. For example:

 

Therefore, my car is a Ferrari. }}

:: This is popular in conspiracy theories. Here the fallacy is fairly obvious; given the evidence, the car ''might'' be a Ferrari, but it might also be a Bugatti, Lamborghini, or any other model of performance car, since the ability to travel that fast is not unique to Ferraris. Hell, it might even be a Subaru Outback. Note that while this may appear to call all hypothesis / evidence experiments fallacious, they are based on additional evaluations of the likelihood of ''other'' theories, thus establishing that A ''is'' a likely cause of B.

 

 

 

Therefore I do not have a head. }}

 

 

 

* Inference to the best explanation. The usual form of scientific reasoning, as well as a lot of Sherlock Holmes' "deductions" (though he's wrong to call them that, since this is a form of ''inductive'' reasoning).

Therefore, A (probably). }}

** This differs from the Ferrari example above in that it posits a stronger connection between A and B than just A's truth entailing B's; B is actually giving some positive reason to ''prefer'' A over the other possibilities. (This approaches, without actually becoming, the logical relationship "if and only if".) Also, this form of argument isn't claiming deductive certainty, so the bar is a little lower for it being acceptable.

** Scientific reasoning is frequently attacked by those who understand this fallacy, but not the scientific method, which has the following form:

I must provisionally reject A or modify it to account for D, then continue to seek new information and propose new possible explanations. }}

 

 

 

Stan: So logically, I didn't spend any money! [[No Fourth Wall|*waves at the camera*]] Goodnight everybody! }}

 

* An argument made by Obama supporters against conservatives.

Therefore Bob is a racist. }}

** A similar argument from Obama detractors is that anyone who voted for Obama did so only for affirmative action's sake, rather than because they believed Obama was a strong candidate on his own merit.

** I opposed Obama because I was for Hillary, [[Hypocritical Humor|you sexist!]]

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Logical Fallacies]]

[[Category:Converse Error]]