Thought this might be helpful! I know I'm definitely a written/visual learner:
10 FLAWS TO KNOW:
Misdirected Response =when the author or a second speaker responds to an argument the other person never actually made; the response aims for the wrong target
LSAT Answer Ex: "Is directed toward disproving a claim that was not made"
False Dichotomy = when you think you're limited to two options even though there might be other ones available
LSAT Answer Ex: "Assumes without warrant that a situation allows only two possibilities"
Confusing a Mental State with Reality = when you mix up a fact about the world with someone's belief or intention (what's happening in their mind); or the other way around
LSAT Answer Ex: "Assumes that because an action was followed by a change, the action was undertaken for the purpose of bringing about that change"
Confusing a Lack of Support with a False Conclusion= when you think knocking down someone's argument proves that their conclusion is wrong; this is a flaw because the conclusion can still stand, even if you take away it's support
LSAT Answer Ex: "Rejects a position on the grounds that an inadequate argument has been made for it"
Attacking the Source = when you attack the person that holds a view rather than the view itself; whether someone is biased or hypocritical doesn't affect whether their view is true
LSAT Answer Ex: "Attacks the proponent of a claim rather than the merits of the claim"
Overlooking Factors = happens when you base a judgement on only some of the factors that matter; weighing a cost or benefit but ignoring the other side, or fixating on one effect while ignoring the ones that push the other way
LSAT Answer Ex: "Fails to consider that the benefits to be gained might outweigh the costs"
Part vs. Whole = when you assume that something true about individual components of a thing must also be true about the whole thing (or the other way around)
LSAT Answer Ex: "Assumes that because something is true of each of the parts of a whole, it is true of the whole itself"
Unrepresentative Sample= when you generalize about a group based on a slice of it that's skewed in a relevant way
LSAT Answer Ex: "The argument draws a conclusion about a population from observations of a subgroup that is quite likely to be unrepresentative of that population in certain relevant respects"
Assuming Cause From Correlation = happens when you think that the fact two things tend to show up together proves that one thing must have caused the other; there could be other explanations for why the two things show up together (ex. third factor that causes both, or causal direction is reversed)
LSAT Answer Ex: "Illicitly infers a cause from a correlation"
Confusing Sufficient and Necessary Conditions = happens when you think something that guarantees another thing is absolutely required for that thing (or the other way around)
LSAT Answer Ex: "Takes a sufficient condition as a necessary one"
This was so helpful and I feel like im able to grasp flaw questions better now. When I first worked through this module I could barely spot any flaws :(
24 comments
Sam, I need you to lock in.
@hjr210400 I fear he's not locked
@hjr210400 Pat and Sam stress me outtt
Thought this might be helpful! I know I'm definitely a written/visual learner:
10 FLAWS TO KNOW:
Misdirected Response = when the author or a second speaker responds to an argument the other person never actually made; the response aims for the wrong target
LSAT Answer Ex: "Is directed toward disproving a claim that was not made"
False Dichotomy = when you think you're limited to two options even though there might be other ones available
LSAT Answer Ex: "Assumes without warrant that a situation allows only two possibilities"
Confusing a Mental State with Reality = when you mix up a fact about the world with someone's belief or intention (what's happening in their mind); or the other way around
LSAT Answer Ex: "Assumes that because an action was followed by a change, the action was undertaken for the purpose of bringing about that change"
Confusing a Lack of Support with a False Conclusion = when you think knocking down someone's argument proves that their conclusion is wrong; this is a flaw because the conclusion can still stand, even if you take away it's support
LSAT Answer Ex: "Rejects a position on the grounds that an inadequate argument has been made for it"
Attacking the Source = when you attack the person that holds a view rather than the view itself; whether someone is biased or hypocritical doesn't affect whether their view is true
LSAT Answer Ex: "Attacks the proponent of a claim rather than the merits of the claim"
Overlooking Factors = happens when you base a judgement on only some of the factors that matter; weighing a cost or benefit but ignoring the other side, or fixating on one effect while ignoring the ones that push the other way
LSAT Answer Ex: "Fails to consider that the benefits to be gained might outweigh the costs"
Part vs. Whole = when you assume that something true about individual components of a thing must also be true about the whole thing (or the other way around)
LSAT Answer Ex: "Assumes that because something is true of each of the parts of a whole, it is true of the whole itself"
Unrepresentative Sample = when you generalize about a group based on a slice of it that's skewed in a relevant way
LSAT Answer Ex: "The argument draws a conclusion about a population from observations of a subgroup that is quite likely to be unrepresentative of that population in certain relevant respects"
Assuming Cause From Correlation = happens when you think that the fact two things tend to show up together proves that one thing must have caused the other; there could be other explanations for why the two things show up together (ex. third factor that causes both, or causal direction is reversed)
LSAT Answer Ex: "Illicitly infers a cause from a correlation"
Confusing Sufficient and Necessary Conditions = happens when you think something that guarantees another thing is absolutely required for that thing (or the other way around)
LSAT Answer Ex: "Takes a sufficient condition as a necessary one"
@Hannah12FJcm Bless you!
@Hannah12FJcm love you mate
is there a pdf of these?
This was so helpful and I feel like im able to grasp flaw questions better now. When I first worked through this module I could barely spot any flaws :(
Mental State v. Reality Example:
Pat: My former roommate walked past me without saying anything. Why are they trying to avoid me?
Sam: ....Bro, he's literally blind.
"Confusing a mental state with reality" sums up my LSAT goals
sam is an asshole
I remember when I went dumpster diving with these two guys, and afterward we went to a Yankees game. Good times.
heh first :P
Damn lmao at this point, what's the point of arguing? Flaw everywhere
this really helped me break it down I've been getting caught up on the practice drills for this reason
ice cream sushi ranch pickle smoothie 🤤
Would it be detrimental to view 9 (false dichotomy) and 5 (overlooking factors) as similar and treat these questions similarly?
@JonelleMartinez yes
I would recommend The Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn to really brush up on flaws.
Sam you gotta stop acting like this. Don't you wanna be a lawyer some day?
This video is really helpful!!
Kevin is the goat, I love his explanations.
go yankees
@LogicallyUnreasonable Go Rangers!