A25: Fallacies:  Mistakes in Reasoning - 3 units
Ramsey Martin        
Wed. 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. - October 1, 8, 15, 22  
Meadows Presbyterian Church - Limit:20

Ramsey Martin is a philosophy professor (1968-1996), retired from Washington and Lee. His interests include the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy at UVa. Besides serving in the U.S. Navy for four years, he taught English and coached at Brooks School, North Andover, Mass.

There are quite a few recognized fallacies embedded in our language and our thinking. Bertrand Russell once remarked that he thought they would never disappear (thus himself flirting with one fallacy we consider, hasty induction).  In addition to that one, we consider the post hoc fallacy, the black-white fallacy, ad baculum (use of force), ad populum (appeal to the crowd), appeal to authority, and petitio principii (circular reasoning).

We examine the structure of arguments, both logical and otherwise (usually inductive ones), and pay some attention to the enthymeme, a common and familiar version of arguments.

 Participants will be given some handouts on these topics and will be encouraged to locate and bring in examples of these mistakes in reasoning. (“Support the Troops” can be our stalking horse for enthymemes.)

There will be time to examine any fishy arguments participants bring to class.