Argument vs. Fallacy — What's the Difference?

Reasoned discourse.

Common in debates.

Evidence-based.

Misleading reasoning.

Conclusion oriented.

Identifiable by critical analysis.

Persuasive intent.

Weakens argument.

Logical structure.

Logical error.

In logic and philosophy, an argument is a series of statements (in a natural language), called the premises or premisses (both spellings are acceptable), intended to determine the degree of truth of another statement, the conclusion. The logical form of an argument in a natural language can be represented in a symbolic formal language, and independently of natural language formally defined "arguments" can be made in math and computer science.

A fallacy is the use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning, or "wrong moves" in the construction of an argument. A fallacious argument may be deceptive by appearing to be better than it really is.

An exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one

A false notion.

A reason or set of reasons given in support of an idea, action or theory

A statement or an argument based on a false or invalid inference.

An independent variable associated with a function or proposition and determining its value. For example, in the expression y = F(x₁, x₂), the arguments of the function F are x₁ and x₂, and the value is y.

Incorrectness of reasoning or belief; erroneousness.

Any of the noun phrases in a clause that are related directly to the verb, typically the subject, direct object, and indirect object.

The quality of being deceptive.

A summary of the subject matter of a book.

Deceptive or false appearance; that which misleads the eye or the mind.

A discussion in which the parties involved express disagreement with one another; a debate

(logic) An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a specious argument.

An angry discussion involving disagreement among the participants; a quarrel

Deceptive or false appearance; deceitfulness; that which misleads the eye or the mind; deception.

(Archaic) A reason or matter for dispute or contention

An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a sophism.

A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood

A misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning

A fact or statement put forth as proof or evidence; a reason

A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.

A summary or short statement of the plot or subject of a literary work.

A topic; a subject

(Logic) The minor premise in a syllogism.

The independent variable of a function.

The angle of a complex number measured from the positive horizontal axis.

(Computers) A value used to evaluate a procedure or subroutine.

(Linguistics) A word, phrase, or clause in a semantic relation with a word or phrase and that helps complete the meaning of that word or phrase, such as a noun phrase that is the object of a verb. The clause that we go is an argument of the verb suggest in the sentence I suggest that we go.

A fact or statement used to support a proposition; a reason.

A series of propositions organized so that the final proposition is a conclusion which is intended to follow logically from the preceding propositions, which function as premises.

(countable) A process of reasoning; argumentation.

(countable) An abstract or summary of the content of a literary work such as a book, a poem or a major section such as a chapter, included in the work before the content itself; (figuratively) the contents themselves.

(countable) A verbal dispute; a quarrel.

Any dispute, altercation, or collision.

Any of the phrases that bears a syntactic connection to the verb of a clause.

The independent variable of a function.

The phase of a complex number.

A quantity on which the calculation of another quantity depends.

A value, or a reference to a value, passed to a function.

A parameter at a function call; an actual parameter, as opposed to a formal parameter.

A matter in question; a business in hand.

The subject matter of an artistic representation, discourse, or writing; a theme or topic.

Evidence, proof; (countable) an item of such evidence or proof.

To put forward as an argument; to argue.

To adduce evidence, to provide proof.

Proof; evidence.

A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.

A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation.

The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of the contents of a book, chapter, poem.

Matter for question; business in hand.

The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as, the altitude is the argument of the refraction.

The independent variable upon whose value that of a function depends.

To make an argument; to argue.

A fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true;

A contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement;

A discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal;

A summary of the subject or plot of a literary work or play or movie;

A variable in a logical or mathematical expression whose value determines the dependent variable; if f(x)=y, x is the independent variable

Avoiding fallacies is crucial for maintaining the credibility and strength of an argument.

Yes, fallacies can be persuasive, especially if the audience is not aware of the logical flaws.

Common fallacies include ad hominem, straw man, slippery slope, and appeal to authority.

Identifying fallacies requires understanding logical structures and recognizing inconsistencies or errors in reasoning.

An argument aims to logically persuade, while a fallacy represents a flaw in reasoning within the argument.

Strengthening an argument involves using sound reasoning, supporting evidence, and avoiding logical errors.

Critical thinking skills enable individuals to identify and correct fallacies, improving the quality of arguments.

Fallacies can undermine the integrity of a debate and mislead the audience if not addressed.

Fallacies can be both intentional or unintentional, depending on the knowledge and intentions of the speaker.

Constructing a solid argument requires more thorough understanding and effort than using a fallacious shortcut.

Education plays a crucial role in teaching how to construct and analyze arguments, including recognizing fallacies.