Formal fallacies are identifiable by examining the structure of a deductive argument, and can result in invalid conclusions. They occur within deductive arguments and are caused by errors in logic in at least one premise. These errors can be intentional or unintentional, and can lead to false but valid arguments.
A formal fallacy is a specific type of fallacy in a deductive argument and is identifiable by examining the overall structure of the argument. These fallacious arguments are different from an informal fallacy that often needs closer analysis of the details of the subject. The mean formal fallacy may appear to be a valid logical argument due to the truth in at least one of the initial premises, but the flaw is often found in the conclusion of the argument. This type of conclusion is considered invalid when it does not follow correct and well-established rhetorical schemes.
For an error to be considered formal, it must occur within a deductive rather than an inductive argument. Statements that contribute to this type of argument are known as premises in the study of rhetoric. A deductive argument begins with a series of premises leading to a conclusion while an inductive argument separates different premises from an initial conclusion. The premises of a deductive argument must contain the truth before a valid conclusion can be drawn. Some of the most common cases of formal errors arise from errors in the logic of at least one premise.
While a formal error conclusion may sometimes seem true and reasonable, a technical flaw in one of the above statements can sometimes lead to a conclusion that doesn’t make logical sense. A discovered formal error is usually given four different designations: true or false and valid or invalid. This type of variation can lead to valid but still false arguments. A small change in the wording of a false but valid argument can sometimes make it true and valid. The altered argument then becomes a formally valid statement rather than a formal fallacy.
When this type of reasoning error is made on purpose, the resulting error is also sometimes called fallacy. Some of these intentionally fallacious arguments are made to deceive listeners and lead their reasoning in the wrong direction. This use of a formal fallacy is often considered a violation of ethics which is also an important part of truthful and concrete logic. Other formal errors can be made accidentally due to faulty or careless thought processes due to limited critical reasoning skills. This instance of an unintentional error can usually be corrected when the attention of the original speaker is called.
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