| Abductive Fallacy |
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Abductive Fallacy
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Abductive Fallacy / Retroduction Fallacy / Retroductive FallacyThe Abductive Fallacy / Retroduction Fallacy / Retroductive Fallacy occurs when a best-in-field fallacy is committed and presented as a deduction. The conclusion of a good abductive argument is merely the best explanation we know of. Who gets to define best? If abduction is presented as deduction, a lie has been told. Examples of the Abductive Fallacy / Retroduction Fallacy / Retroductive Fallacy
This is a best-in-field fallacy that even admits that the fallacy is being used. "That’s the best theory we have." Generally, fallacies are hidden a little bit better than this. What makes this an abductive fallacy is the conclusion: "And we are the result of organisms that lived through that catastrophe." This conclusion falsely implies that the best-in-field fallacy is a sound bases for the premise, "So, as the world changed, as it did for the ancient dinosaurs, they were taken out by a worldwide fireball. Apparently caused by an impact." Yet, a fallacy cannot prove anything. So, this is a bit of a magic trick. 
How can we know anything about anything? That’s the real question |
Other Pages in this sectionStacking the Deck Ambiguity Effect McNamara Fallacy Head in the Sand Suppression of the Agent Fading Affect Bias Unteachable Selective Refutation A-Priorism Audiatur Et Altera Pars Ignoring Historical Example Overlooking Secondary Consequences Uncontrolled Factors Missing Link Moving the Goal Posts Gravity Game Demanding Impossible Evidence Unfalsifiability / Untestibility Invincible Ignorance Argument from Ignorance Ad Ignorantiam Question God of the Gaps Argument from Silence No True Scotsman No True Scientist Fallacy of Opposition Frozen Abstraction Falsified Inductive Generalization Argument from the Negative Accident Fallacy Reverse Accident Best-in-Field Denialism Logical Fallacy of Reductionism / Oversimplification Very Simple Answer Reductionism Taboo Fallacy Recently Viewed |
