類比類邏輯錯誤(False analogy)
說到類比類邏輯錯誤,我們應(yīng)先弄清楚什么是類比論證?類比證論是一種通過已知事物(或事例)與跟它有某些相同特點(diǎn)的事物(或事例)進(jìn)行比較類推從而證明論點(diǎn)的論證方法。其中,“相同特點(diǎn)”是這種論證方法能夠成立的前提,沒有它,就無法進(jìn)行類推;“比較類推”是這種論證方法的根本標(biāo)志,沒有這個推理過程,就達(dá)不到證明論點(diǎn)的目的;“已知事物”是這種論證方法的一個重要條件,它是為所要論述的主體事物服務(wù)的客體事物,沒有這個條件,不能使類推的道理明顯化,不易為讀者接受,在某些情況下也不能達(dá)到證明論點(diǎn)的目的。這種論證方法通過客體事物與主體事物相同特點(diǎn)的比較,把客體事物的性質(zhì)類推到主體事物上,由此揭示出主體事物具有客體事物同樣的性質(zhì),從而達(dá)到證明論點(diǎn)的目的。
但是在argument作文中,通常是不給出類比的前提條件,只是通過一個條件,作者就得出相同的結(jié)論。如在A地方發(fā)生的情況,作者就很容易地得出結(jié)論,即在B地方也必然發(fā)生相同的情況。這也正是argument作文中類比錯誤常見的出題方式。在比較兩個事物的相似性時,只看到了它們表層的共性,而忽略了它們深層的差異。因此,對于這類型的邏輯錯誤,我們在寫的時候就應(yīng)該重點(diǎn)找出它們深層的差異,作為攻擊的突破點(diǎn)。
下面就以一個具體的因果關(guān)系錯誤來說明:
The following appeared in a letter sent by a committee of homeowners from the Deer haven Acres to all homeowners in Deer haven Acres.
"Seven years ago, homeowners in nearby Brookville community adopted a set of restrictions on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted. Since then, average property values have tripled in Brookville. In order to raise property values in Deer haven Acres, we should adopt our own set of restrictions on landscaping and house painting."
【譯文】
“七年前,附近的Brookville社區(qū)的業(yè)主實(shí)施了一系列關(guān)于該社區(qū)的庭院應(yīng)如何布置以及房屋應(yīng)涂何種顏色的規(guī)定。從那以后,Brookville的地產(chǎn)平均價格翻了三番。為使Deer haven Acres的地產(chǎn)升值,我們也應(yīng)該對于景觀和房屋涂色實(shí)施自己的規(guī)定。”
【分析】
這個題目中存在著一個很明顯的類比錯誤,即在上文中提到的“在A地方發(fā)生的情況,在B地方也必然發(fā)生”。文中說,Brookville城市通過規(guī)定房屋顏色取得了成功,因此,Deer haven Acres城市可以通過同樣的方法實(shí)現(xiàn)同樣的目的。這是一個十分典型的錯誤類比。這兩個城市的相似性很可能僅在于它們都是城市而已;如果 Brookville地方擁有非常便利的交通,人們都愿意在此購房,而Deer haven Acres根本沒有如此便利的交通資源,那么簡單地效仿顯然是不明智的。即便Brookville通過規(guī)定房屋顏色取得了成功,但是同樣的做法未必在 Deer haven Acres地方取得相同的效果。論斷沒有兩地間的交通、功能以及住戶特點(diǎn)等問題比較異同,因此,這樣做出的結(jié)論顯得匆促。
在寫argument邏輯錯誤時,常用的論證語句有:
1、The reason /argument rests on the assumption that A is analogous to / similar to B in all respects.
2、This assumption is weak, since although there are points of comparison between A and B, there are much dissimilarity as well.
3、The author also commits the fallacy “all things are equal”
4、The fact that happened two years ago is not a sound evidence to draw a conclusion that …
5、 The author assumes without justification that the background conditions have remained the same at different times or at different locations.
6、However, it is not clear in this argument whether the current conditions at A are the same as they used to be two years ago.
7、Thus it is impossible to conclude that….
下面是根據(jù)上面的題目寫出的類比類邏輯錯誤:
Even assuming that Brookville’s rising property values are attributable to the implementation of these restrictions, the committee fails to consider possible differences between Brookville and Deer haven Acres that might help to bring about a different result for Deer haven Acres. For instance, potential home-buyers might be less interested in a home’s exterior appearance than Brookville home-owners. For that matter, perhaps Deer haven Acres home-buyers would find consistent Deer haven Acres property values. Without accounting for these and other possible dissimilarities, the committee cannot assume that what resulted in rising property values in Brookville would bring about the same result in Deer haven Acres.
【總結(jié)】
綜上所述,類比類錯誤在argument作文中是很明顯的。如果出現(xiàn)“在A地方發(fā)生的情況,在B地方也必然發(fā)生”,那么必然是錯誤類比的標(biāo)志,這時,我們只要找出其他的原因來證明在A地方發(fā)生的情況,不一定在B地方也會發(fā)生。這也正是攻擊類比錯誤的有力的工具。因此,掌握類比錯誤的攻擊方法對我們寫文章是很重要的。
(來源:太傻網(wǎng)) |