How relevant are the speaker’s statements to the discussion at hand? Clear definition and great examples of Equivocation . This happens, for example, when we add in the term ‘dogs’: Usually, the fallacy of four terms is more subtle than that, and occurs as a result of the equivocation fallacy, in situations where one of the three terms is used with two possible meanings, thus creating a fourth categorical term and invalidating the syllogism. Note: amphibology is sometimes also referred to as amphiboly, or as the fallacy of amphiboly in cases where it renders an argument logically unsound. The method for dealing with the equivocation fallacy is relatively straightforward; you simply need to identify the word or expression in the argument that is used with different meanings, and point out this issue, while explaining how this shift invalidates the original argument. Specifically, this is because lying involves telling a falsehood directly, while equivocation involves concealing the truth or avoiding commitment to a specific stance, without necessarily telling any falsehoods. The use of vague or ambiguous language, which makes the meaning of what is being said unclear. Ad feminam: Using female stereotypes to attack a viewpoint is an ad feminam fallacy, for example, calling someone's viewpoint irrational because of pregnancy, menopause, ... Equivocation (Fallacy) Usage and Examples of a Rebuttal. Conclusion: A pointless lesson is better than a valuable lesson. Furthermore, this is something that I care about, and will continue to care about over time. There are two main components to equivocation: 1. I have to say, they were pretty down to earth.”. Sometimes, equivocation fallacy occurs unintentionally, but there are times when it is used on purpose. One potential explanation for this paradox is that the statement involves the equivocation fallacy, when it comes to the different possible meanings of the word ‘is’. In the first case here, ‘hang’ means ‘stand’ or ‘stay’, while in the second case ‘hang’ refers to being executed via hanging. Note: when in doubt whether or not someone’s argument contains the equivocation fallacy, you should apply the principle of charity, which denotes that, when interpreting someone’s statement, you should assume that the best possible interpretation of that statement is the one that the speaker meant to convey. Equivocation Real-Life Examples. Equivocation Fallacy: Definition and Examples The term equivocation refers to the use of ambiguous language in an attempt to hide the truth or avoid commitment to a point of view. There are various things that you can do in order to avoid equivocating. Circumlocution can therefore be viewed as a specific type of equivocation. If necessary, make sure to explicitly commit to a certain stance. There are many ambiguous words in philosophy (e.g. And because it is obviously impractical for me to study all 300 logical fallacies, I … There are two main components to equivocation: As such, equivocation involves the intentional use of imprecise language, together with other forms of misleading or confusing forms of communication, such as statements that are ambiguous, contradictory, tangential, or evasive. These concepts are not crucial to your understanding of equivocation, but can be of interest to those who want to learn more about the topic. Equivocation. This means, for example, that a word such as ‘table’ is less likely to be used in this fallacy than a word such as ‘love’. Here, the argument is rendered invalid because the term ‘nothing’ is used in two senses, first to suggest that what it’s being compared to is of relatively high value, and then to suggest that what it’s being compared to is of relatively low value. You can respond to the equivocation fallacy by pointing out the shift in the meaning of the problematic term and demonstrating how this invalidates the original statement, and by using additional techniques, such as substituting the different instances of the problematic term with alternatives terms (e.g. Kara either doesn’t realize or doesn’t care that her argument uses this fallacy. Avoid mentioning unnecessary information that isn’t relevant to the discussion. In this example, the speaker shifts between two similar but different meanings of ‘faith’, the first of which has to do with having confidence in something, and the second of which has to do with believing in a religious figure based on spiritual conviction. Is the speaker trying to avoid committing to a specific stance? The fallacy of equivocation uses misleading terms of more than one meaning without clarifying which definition is intended in the scenario.. The moon is made of green cheese. The equivocation fallacy relies on the use of equivalent words or phrases that don’t mean exactly the same thing, but are used as though they do to try to prove a point. It seeks to draw comparisons between different, often unrelated things, to make a point that one is just as bad as the other or just as good as the other. Is the speaker using language that makes it unnecessarily difficult to understand them? Politician: I think that the new law has to do with an interesting and important topic. For example, in politics, politicians often equivocate in order to avoid giving a direct answer to questions that they’re asked, if they believe that the answers to those questions might reflect badly on them, either now or later. I know how to think of my own example, but I need an example of one in the media (politics, commercials, etc. The intent to deceive listeners or to avoid committing to a specific stance. However, the person stating that it’s possible for this statement to be true is focusing on its second, less intuitive interpretation. If the speaker is responding a question, to what degree does their statement answer that question? This semantic shift can occur as a result of several different things, such as: The semantic shift that the equivocation fallacy is based on is usually implicit and subtle. Equivocation is the illegitimate switching of the meaning of a term during the reasoning. For instance, the following is an example of doublespeak: “The company recently modified its forecasts based on market performance, and is now expecting to adjust the size of its staff accordingly.”. To avoid using the equivocation fallacy yourself, you should make sure to remain consistent when using the same term multiple times in an argument, by sticking to a single meaning of this term throughout the argument. Whether or not the writer is aware of the equivocation, it is still a fallacy. Premise 2: A pointless lesson is better than nothing. For example, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States, is reported to have said the following, when calling for colonial unity: “We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”. Examples of Equivocation Fallacy? Philosophy students are taught how to argue, but shouldn't we teach them something more helpful? Note that, in general, words that refer to concrete concepts and words with a small number of possible meanings are less likely it is to be used in the equivocation fallacy. One president did — and won. If the equivocator is using vague language, ask them to explain their stance in a more precise manner. The following is an example of the equivocation fallacy: Premise: Annoying customers are a headache. The fallacy of four terms is a logical fallacy that occurs when a categorical syllogism contains four categorical terms, instead of three, in a way that invalidates its logic. It insults the intelligence of the American people, and most tellingly, signals a disturbing sympathy to … Furthermore, in some cases, the equivocation fallacy is therefore classified as one of multiple fallacies of ambiguity. It's also known as semantic equivocation. The statement is viewed as paradoxical, because it seems to not make sense to say that a white horse is not a horse. The equivocation fallacy is associated with a number of related concepts, which are briefly explained below. Loaded Questions: What They Are and How to Respond to Them, The Appeal to Definition Fallacy: When People Misuse the Dictionary, Logical Fallacies: What They Are and How to Counter Them, Difference between equivocating and lying, How to respond to the equivocation fallacy, How to avoid using the equivocation fallacy, Concepts related to the equivocation fallacy, Why It’s Hard to Make Decisions (Especially Good, Fast Ones), Tempus Fugit: Time Flies, So Use It Wisely, Reverse Psychology: Getting People to Do Things By Asking for the Opposite, The Napoleon Technique: Postponing Things to Increase Productivity, Double Standards: What They Are and How to Respond to Them. If you suspect that you might be using the equivocation fallacy, you can use the techniques that you would use to highlight this issue in other people’s speech, such as substituting the different uses of the term with a synonym or with a full definition, in order to identify such cases in your own reasoning and speech. Equivocation is a fallacy by which a specific word or phrase in an argument is used with more than one meaning.It's also known as semantic equivocation.