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In philosophy, a logical error is called a logical fallacy. There are many logical fallacies to watch out for when making or evaluating a philosophical argument.

Demonstrate your understanding of each of the following logical fallacies by using your own words to provide a definition of the term and an argument of 2–3 sentences:

Mere assertion

Circular reasoning

Ad hominem

Red herring

Pseudo-questions

False cause

Sweeping generalizations

Slippery slope

Equivocation or changing meanings

Please submit your assignment.

Consider the following excerpt from Plato’s Meno, in which Socrates guides his student (Meno) to the conclusion that all evil is a form of ignorance (Soccio, 1995):

Socrates: …Do not all men…desire the good?

Meno: I think not.

Socrates: There are some who desire evil?

Meno: Yes.

Socrates: Do you mean that they think the evils which they desire, to be good; or do they know that they are evil and yet desire them?

Meno: Both, I think.

Socrates: And do you really imagine, Meno, that a man knows evils to be evils and desires them notwithstanding?

Meno: Certainly I do.

Socrates: And desire is [for] possession?

Meno: Yes, [for] possession…

Socrates: Well, and do those who, as they say, desire evils, and think that evils are hurtful to the possessor of them, know that they will be hurt by them?

Meno: They must know it.

Socrates: And must they not suppose that those who are hurt are miserable in proportion to the hurt which is inflicted upon them?

Meno: How can it be otherwise?

Socrates: But are not the miserable ill-fated?

Meno: Yes, indeed.

Socrates: And does any one desire to be miserable and ill-fated?

Meno: I should say not, Socrates.

Socrates: But if there is no one who desires to be miserable, there no one, Meno, who desires evil; for what is misery but the desire and possession of evil?

Meno: That appears to be the truth, Socrates, and I admit that nobody desires evil.

Take a moment to reflect on this passage, and then write 2–3 paragraphs in response to the following questions:

What do you think of Socrates’ conclusion that no person knowingly does evil, and therefore, all evil is ignorance? Do you agree or disagree, and why? If you disagree, please identify at least 1 logical fallacy.

If people accepted that all evil is ignorance, what implications would that have on the justice system? How would prison sentencing or the death penalty be affected?

In your own words, please post a response to the Discussion Board and comment on other postings. You will be graded on the quality of your postings.

For assistance with your assignment, please use your text, Web resources, and all course materials.

Reference

Soccio, D. J. (1995). Archetypes of wisdom. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth