Correlative-based fallacies explained

In philosophy, correlative-based fallacies are informal fallacies based on correlative conjunctions.

Correlative conjunctions

A correlative conjunction is a relationship between two statements where one must be false and the other true. In formal logic this is known as the exclusive or relationship; traditionally, terms between which this relationship exists have been called contradictories.

Examples

In the following example, statement b explicitly negates statement a:

Statements can also be mutually exclusive, without explicitly negating each other as in the following example:

Fallacies

Fallacies based on correlatives include:

False dilemma or false correlative.
  • Here something which is not a correlative is treated as a correlative, excluding some other possibility.
    Denying the correlative
  • where an attempt is made to introduce another option into a true correlative.
    Suppressed correlative
  • where the definitions of a correlative are changed so that one of the options includes the other, making one option impossible.

    See also

    External links

    Correlational fallacy in psychology