you're so fallacious

[schmerica]

Coming up on three years since I took Informal Logic at SRC, I was complaining to dsudis about how I seem to be forgetting all the names of various things. Like, I can still see where the fallacies pop up, and what's valid and what isn't, but I can't remember why, or what it's called.

So, then, of course, I went to look them up and remember what each one was called. And then I made up stupid little examples to show Dira, and she very kindly pretended to care even a little tiny bit.

So. I present to you all My Completely Pointless Examples of Logical Forms, Illustrated By Due South Slash. Enjoy.

Denying the Antecedent

If you are a Mountie, then you are hot.
Ray is not a Mountie.
Therefore, Ray is not hot.

FALLACY.

Affirming the Consequent

If you are Ray, then you are hot.
Fraser is hot.
Therefore, Fraser is Ray.

FALLACY.

Modus Tollens

If you are Fraser, then you are a Mountie.
Ray is not a Mountie.
Therefore, Ray is not Fraser.

VALID, YAY!!!

Modus Ponens

If Ray is really hot, then Fraser will want to have sex with him.
Ray is really hot.
Therefore, Fraser wants to have sex with him.

VALID, YAY!!!

*cough* Oddly, considering our normal conversations, this is actually not very dorky for Dira and me. Less so than our linguistic squee, at least.

Comments

[serialkarma.livejournal.com]

You know, I had to take symbolic logic in college and it confused the hell out of me. Now I can't help thinking: but if they had used *porn* to teach it, I might have actually gotten it!

Of course, it would have been a much more popular class, too, I imagine.

[thete1.livejournal.com]

This is the BEST POST EVER.

*loves you madly*

[buggery.livejournal.com]

It's been even longer since I've taken a course that covered logic (don't ask how many years. Just don't) but I still love the structure of arguments and syllogisms and all that.

And now with extra due South geeksexiness!
<3333333333

[raucousraven.livejournal.com]

People with magnificent brains are teh Hott.
pearl_o has a magnificent brain.
Therefore, pearl_o is teh Hott.

...er, I hope I did that right. Is Affirming the Antecedent both valid and true?

[claire.livejournal.com]

Dude, they so should've taught me logic like this - I probably wouldn't have skipped 80% of the lectures to go drink beer. Well, maybe I would have.

And for some reason, I keep thinking that FALLACY should be PHALLUSY (at least in this context).

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

*grins* That's technically the same as the Modus Ponens example I have up there.

The truth thing is complicated, though, yeah. Valid just means that if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true. So using the modus ponens -- if p, then q; p; therefore q -- the argument will always be valid.

Thus you can say:

If Ray and Fraser have sex, then I win a million dollars.
Ray and Fraser have sex.
Therefore, I win a million dollars.

So that is a valid argument, but not a sound one, because the premises are not true to begin with.

...Yes.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

*cuddles you*

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Everything can be improved with geeksexiness, yo. And when it's something as happy-making as this to begin with, all the better.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I never took the symbolic logic, actually -- only the informal. So, yeah, we still had words and everything.

The name of my website is actually from my Informal Logic textbook, though. Because I am easily amused.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

And for some reason, I keep thinking that FALLACY should be PHALLUSY (at least in this context).

*giggles madly*

[silverakira.livejournal.com]

Dude. [points] What thete1 said.

I am so going to take a logic course when I get the chance.

(Also: you went to SRC? That's awesome, man. I know someone who's going there now.)

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Simon's Rock owns my SOUL, man. I loved it to death; I only left because the damn scholarship money ran out. But, yeah, wonderful amazing turning-point two years of my life.

[zarahemla.livejournal.com]

You are too funny. I almost understand logic now! Almost.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

*snicker* I do what I can?

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

BAHAHAHAHA! I feel a) amused and b) smarter reading that.

<3

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Yay! Dude, seriously, what else can I hope to accomplish?

(Did your mail include my Christmas card for you? I don't know how long it takes things to get there, but I mailed it out before Christmas.)

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

(It should! But I haven't got all my mail yet, just the stuff from universities. I ought to get it on Monday.)

[jenboo.livejournal.com]

I loved taking logic on college even before these arguments. I love it even more now!

Even if I don't remember most of the terms, I love the dorky logical squee!!
*smooches you*