Lesson: Challenging Critical/Logical Reasoning - 21

Additional Question Types: Logical Flaws

By now it should be apparent that many of the arguments you'll see on your test aren't well-supported. Most contain some type of logical flaw.

However, so far it's been your responsibility to figure out that a flaw exists and what to do about it. In the next question type that we'll review - the Logical Flaw question - you are told that a flaw exists. But now you must identify it directly.

We've already covered a number of the most common flaws in arguments:

• In causal arguments, the author often fails to consider alternative causes.
• In representativeness arguments, the sample may not be representative of the group.
• In scope shifts, the author does not keep the scope of his argument consistent.

But there are two more of which you should be aware:

• In necessary/sufficient errors, a requirement that is necessary for something to occur is confused with something that is sufficient for it to occur.
• In correlation/causation errors, a correlation between two ideas is mistaken for causal relationship (or vice versa).

Let's take a look at an example of each.

Next to display next topic in the chapter.