Question

False premise- For this fallacy, we must look to the tale itself.

(hint: How does the narrator make an initial logical fallacy in his pursuit of Polly?)

Answer 1

The student's question concerns the logical fallacy of using false premises within an argument, which can lead to circular reasoning. A valid argument requires that its premises are true and that they lead directly to the conclusion without assuming the conclusion within them. The fallacies of diversion are attempts to distract from the argument, which also undermines logical reasoning.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question revolves around understanding the logical fallacies presented within a narrative, particularly the fallacy of a false premise. When discussing a false premise, this pertains to a statement or foundation of an argument that is incorrect, yet is used as the basis to draw a conclusion.

According to Gilbert Harman, a true belief cannot be known if it is inferred from falsehoods, such as in the example where a nomad mistakes a mirage for water or where a man believes the time based on a false premise that the clock is working. This aligns with Harman's fourth condition, which adds to the Justified True Belief (JTB) account that one must not infer something from any falsehoods.

Additionally, false premises can lead to circular reasoning, which is a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is assumed in one of the premises. As illustrated, when an argument relies on a premise that assumes the truth of the conclusion to prove it (for instance, asserting that a sacred text is divinely inspired assumes the existence of a deity which is exactly what the argument tries to establish), it commits the fallacy of begging the question. Therefore, a rational critic would reject such an argument because circular reasoning is not convincing to those who do not already accept the conclusion.

Fallacies of diversion are another type of flawed reasoning where the aim is to distract from the actual argument. In any case, for an argument to be logical and convincing, its premises must not only be true but also lead to the conclusion in a non-circular and relevant way—thus ensuring a clear and direct inference.