People are often mistrustful of authority these days. John Corvino explains why – and to what extent – expertise matters.
Author: bdadmin
The Principle of Charity
Why should we give people the benefit of the doubt when assessing their arguments, instead of setting up “straw men” (or “straw persons”)? John Corvino explains the principle of charity.
False Dilemma
John Corvino explains the fallacy of false dilemma, in which an argument forces a conclusion while leaving key options off the table.
Equivocation
John Corvino explains the fallacy of equivocation, wherein the meaning of a term shifts mid-argument.
The Fact/Opinion Distinction
Lots of people have tried to explain the difference between facts and opinions. John Corvino explains why the distinction is messy and not very useful.
Ad Hominem
What does it mean for an argument to be “ad hominem,” and why is that bad? John Corvino explains.
No True Scotsman
John Corvino explains the “No True Scotsman” fallacy, also known as “moving the goalposts.”
Deepities
John Corvino explains philosopher Daniel Dennett’s concept of “Deepities”—claims that look deep, but only because they’re ambiguous.
Slippery-Slope Arguments
John Corvino explains how to evaluate slippery-slope arguments.
Analogies and False Equivalence
John Corvino explains why arguments from analogy can be tricky, especially if they suggest a false equivalence between actions that are morally quite different.