Categories of Fallacies Fallacies of Ambiguity The fallacies of ambiguity (or fallacies of language) are those arguments that contain

ambiguous words or phrases whose meanings shift and change within the course of the argument. Fallacies of Ambiguity VICIOUS ABSTRACTION altering the logic or meaning of a statement by using vague or abstract terms. !amples" #ote Crisaldo The $eople%s Choice Co&e is the 'eal Thing (The currency crisis will not have much effect anymore on the prices of goods) in fact there will be no price increases for the meantime. AMPHIBOLY* using a phrase whose meaning is ambiguous because the grammatical construction can be interpreted in various ways. !amples" +f Creosus wages war against the $ersians, -e will destroy a mighty &ingdom. To be repaired"the roc&ing chair of an old lady with bro&en legs. .oing up the stage, the crowd applauded the newly elected $rsident. Fallacies of Ambiguity

ACCENT /sing ambiguously a word0phrase that has different meanings when accented differently. !amples" 1e should not spea& ill of our friends. 2idnightSALE 345 discount EQUIVOCATION /s ing the different senses0meanings of a term in a single line of reasoning. !amples" 1hat is natural is good To err is natural Therefore, to err is good Fallacies of Ambiguity FIGURES OF SPEECH consists of inferring a meaning based on the similarity of word structure !amples" Anybody restless is not restful To be careless is not careful 1hat is immaterial is not material 6tevenson is a ghost writer but a ghost is a spirit Therefore, 6tevenson is a spirit. Fallacies of Ambiguity VICIOUS ABSTRACTION altering the logic or meaning of a statement by using vague or abstract terms. !amples" #ote Crisaldo The $eople%s Choice Co&e is the 'eal Thing (The currency crisis will not have much effect anymore on the prices of goods) in fact there will be no price increases for the meantime