Christian Truth is needed through Apologetics
  • Home
  • Talk Apologetics Blog
    • Surveys
  • Store and Resources
  • Great Books
  • Social Media Page
  • YouTube
  • Statement of Faith
  • About
  • Author and Owner
  • Library of Scholarly Papers
  • Great Apologetic Websites
  • Contact & Donate

Talk Apologetics
(Apologetics Youth Empire Blog)

Learn and talk about Apologetics. Be sure to like and share!

Logical Fallacy #11: Fallacy of Equivocation

3/22/2018

1 Comment

 

-John Dunfee

Picture
Fallacy of Equivocation- This fallacy occurs when a conclusion depends on the fact that a word or phrase is used, either explicitly or implicitly, in two different senses in the argument.
 
Examples:
A Tree contains bark.
My Dog barks.
Therefore, my dog is a tree.
 
There have been over 3,000 God’s.
Christians believes in a God.
Therefore, Christians believe in one less God then I(atheist).
Obviously, this argument would commit the fallacy of equivocation about 3,000 times.
 
You don’t believe in evolution?
Evolution has been proven true!
Evolution is a fact!
What these claims typically will mean will be macro-evolution, but then will be equivocated to mean micro-evolution or change over time when the evidence is provided. (ex: Darwin's finches)
 
            If a meaning of a specific word changes in an argument, then the argument commits the fallacy of equivocation. For example, Lawrence Krauss will define nothing as a quantum vacuum, but then use the word nothing meaning “not anything”. A quantum vacuum is a fluxuation of energy in a vacuum, so it is not nothing in the classical sense at all. His argument commits the fallacy of equivocation.
 
            This is a tricky one to catch because it not explicit in the argument. It’s very implicit and you have to search for the intended meaning that makes sense throughout the argument. One helpful trick can be this, ask theses: What do you mean by that? It will help get the meaning of the word used in both premises and conclusions. Just like Lawrence Krauss defines nothing in two different meanings, people commit equivocation with a specific word.
 
Use the Columbo tactic to help find this fallacy. What do you mean by …?  How did you come to that conclusion? Have you ever considered? The first two questions help distinguish between the possible meaning of the word being used. The second question helps to show how they came to that specific meaning. The third question will help the person consider to stick with one meaning, so their argument will not commit this fallacy. The argument will probably rest upon the fallacy equivocation, so they may not have an argument at all.
 
Equivocation is committed by even the best of philosophers whether on purpose or by accident. This fallacy should be avoided as much as possible to be as logical as possible. Don’t be like Lawrence Krauss, so stick with one meaning.

Please like, share, and tweet!
 
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010567270369
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMDapologetics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmdapologetics101/
1 Comment
essaymama.com reviews link
12/7/2018 05:10:52 am

A lot of people believe that the Bible is indeed riddled with fallacies. But, they often exaggerate and bend the truth in order to get believers to shift to something like an atheist. I believe that the Bible would only be unbelievable if one do not want to believe. If you use your head too much when reading the Bible, then you should stop. Absorbing the knowledge and teachings of the Bible will only be possible if you use your heart. We must connect not only our minds with god, but our hearts as well. The heart will enable us to fully connect and understand what is written in the scriptures.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Popular Articles

    Dealing With the Top Ten Objections to the Kalam Cosmological ARGUMENT 
    Click To Read
    Top Ten Christian Apologists
    Click To Read
    The Fine Tuning ARGUMENT
    Click To Read

    Authors

    John Dunfee
    Mike Jones
    ​Tim Howard
    ​Jacob Burbidge
    ​Ted Wright
    ​Clark Bates
    ​Tim Stratton
    ​John Limanto
    S.J. Thomason​
    ​Dusty Letchworth
    ​Scott Lindsay
    ​Rebecca Brown

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Topics

    All
    Apologetics
    Arguments For God's Existence
    Bible Contradictions Resolved
    Ethics
    Exegesis Analysis
    Historical Questions
    Logical Fallacies
    Metaphysics
    Philosophical Questions
    Theological Questions

    Picture
    Become a Patron!
    New Coffee Mugs!

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Talk Apologetics Blog
    • Surveys
  • Store and Resources
  • Great Books
  • Social Media Page
  • YouTube
  • Statement of Faith
  • About
  • Author and Owner
  • Library of Scholarly Papers
  • Great Apologetic Websites
  • Contact & Donate