A Classification of Fallacious Arguments and Interpretations
Irving John Good · Technometrics · 1962
classification makes it seem likely that a natural linear ordering is impossible. Hence the cross-references. In Part 2, I have made much use of the list of ‘dishonest tricks ’ in Appendix I of Ref. 3. Dr. Robert H. Thouless and English Universities Press have most generously granted permission for this classification to be published. I am also indebted to the Admiralty for permission to publish. 1 Fallacies in pure mathematics. (See Refs. 1 and 2.) (Presumably all subclasses of 2 are potentially applicable here.) 11 Misleading geometrical diagrams. 12 Misunderstanding of a word. (Cf. 228 below.) 13 Misunderstanding of a rule, e.g. by ignoring its conditions of validity. (Cf. 24 below.) (E.g. 0 = log 1 = log (- 1) ” = 210g (- 1) = 27ri.) 14 Misunderstanding of a notation. (E.g. (i) c(a + b) = ca + cb, therefore f( ~ + b) = f(a) + f(b), (ii) What does Ci