Asking the Right Questions, A Guide to Critical Thinking, 8th Ed

98 Chapter 7
you are most likely to spot them when you focus on the particular question
central to that chapter. As you encounter each additional fallacy, be sure to
add it to your fallacy list.
To find reasoning fallacies, keep in mind what kinds of reasons are good
reasons—that is, the evidence and the moral principles relevant to the issue.
Reasoning should be rejected whenever you have found mistaken assumptions,
distractions, or support for the conclusion that already assumes the truth of
the conclusion. Reasoning should be approached cautiously when it appeals to
group-approved attitudes and to authority. You should always ask, "Are there
good reasons to consider such appeals as persuasive evidence?" A precautionary
note is in order here: Do not automatically reject reasoning that relies on
appeals to authority or group-approved attitudes. Carefully evaluate such reasoning.
For example, if most physicians in the country choose to take up jogging,
that information is important to consider in deciding whether jogging is
beneficial. Some authorities do possess valuable information. Because of their
importance as a source of evidence, we discuss appeals to authority in detail in
the next chapter.
Clues for Locating and Assessing Fallacies in Reasoning
You should reject reasoning when the author:
• attacks a person or a person's background, instead of the person's ideas
• uses slippery slope reasoning
• reflects a search for perfect solutions
• equivocates
• inappropriately appeals to common opinion
• appeals to questionable authority
• appeals to emotions
• attacks a straw person
• presents a faulty dilemma
• engages in wishful thinking
• explains by naming
• diverts attention from the issue
• distracts with glittering generalities
• begs the question