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An argument that actually contains premises that are all the same as the assertion is thus proof by assertion. This fallacy is sometimes used as a form of rhetoric by politicians, or during a debate as a filibuster. In its extreme form, it can also be a form of brainwashing. [1] Modern politics contains many examples of proofs by assertion.
For example, "I've flipped heads with this coin five times consecutively, so the chance of tails coming out on the sixth flip is much greater than heads." [ 66 ] Hot-hand fallacy (also known as "hot hand phenomenon" or "hot hand"), the belief that a person who has experienced success with a random event has a greater chance of further success ...
The term comes from the late Middle English word meaning 'beautiful', itself coming from the Latin word 'speciosus' meaning 'fair'. [4] This highlights the common quality of specious assertions being attractive in concept and pleasant to place belief in, thereby making them more readily adopted by the layperson despite a lack of factual basis or sound logical reasoning.
However, other forms of the fallacy exist. For instance, a person citing a myth or made-up story as evidence is engaging in proof by assertion. This is because, if the anecdote is fictional, it is not logically part of the argument. All that is left is the assertion that the argument is true, and it is thus the proof by assertion fallacy.
For example, riding the bus is a sufficient mode of transportation to get to work. But there are other modes of transportation – car, taxi, bicycle, walking – that can be used. Modal scope fallacy – a degree of unwarranted necessity is placed in the conclusion.
The life expectancy among adults was much higher; a 21-year-old man in medieval England, for example, could expect to live to the age of 64. However, in various places and eras, life expectancy was noticeably lower. For example, monks often died in their 20s or 30s.
Logical assertion, a statement that asserts that a certain premise is true; Proof by assertion, an informal fallacy in which a proposition is repeatedly restated; Time of assertion, in linguistics a secondary temporal reference in establishing tense; Assertive, a speech act that commits a speaker to the truth of the expressed proposition
Another form of argument is known as modus tollens (commonly abbreviated MT). In this form, you start with the same first premise as with modus ponens. However, the second part of the premise is denied, leading to the conclusion that the first part of the premise should be denied as well.