Equivocation
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This fallacy is used frequently in the service of [[apologetics]] arguments. A few examples: | This fallacy is used frequently in the service of [[apologetics]] arguments. A few examples: | ||
| − | # [[Atheism is based on faith]]. There are multiple meanings of the word "faith". | + | # [[Atheism is based on faith]]. There are multiple meanings of the word "[[faith]]". |
# [[No true Scotsman]] fallacy. When somebody says "So-and-so wasn't really a [[Christian]] because he did that," they are relying on ambiguity in the word "Christian". | # [[No true Scotsman]] fallacy. When somebody says "So-and-so wasn't really a [[Christian]] because he did that," they are relying on ambiguity in the word "Christian". | ||
| + | # [[The existence of laws implies a law-giver]]. This stems from a confusion between natural laws and legal laws. | ||
| + | # [[Evolution is only a theory]]. This plays on the confusion between the scientific and colloquial definitions of the word "theory". | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
Revision as of 12:37, 15 June 2006
Equivocation is a logical fallacy that involves taking a word with more than one definition and freely substituting one definition for another.
For example: "A feather is light. Therefore, a feather cannot be dark." There are two meanings of the word "light." The first sentence assumes a meaning that is the opposite of "heavy," not the opposite of "dark."
This fallacy is used frequently in the service of apologetics arguments. A few examples:
- Atheism is based on faith. There are multiple meanings of the word "faith".
- No true Scotsman fallacy. When somebody says "So-and-so wasn't really a Christian because he did that," they are relying on ambiguity in the word "Christian".
- The existence of laws implies a law-giver. This stems from a confusion between natural laws and legal laws.
- Evolution is only a theory. This plays on the confusion between the scientific and colloquial definitions of the word "theory".
