Affirming a disjunct
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Affirming a disjunct occurs in a deductive argument when it is assumed, because one of multiple possibilities is true, that the other or others are false.
It is a syllogistic fallacy and a formal fallacy.
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[edit] Alternate names
This one's got an endless stream of boring alternate titles:
- (fallacy of) affirming a/the/one/etc. disjunct
- (fallacy of) affirmation of a/the/one/etc. disjunct
- (fallacy of) alternative syllogism
- (fallacy of) alternative disjunct
- (fallacy of) asserting an alternative
- (fallacy of) the disjunctive syllogism
- (fallacy of) improper disjunctive syllogism
- (fallacy of) false exclusionary disjunct
[edit] Form
Affirming a disjunct can take four forms:
Accepting the first term and denying the second:
P1: A or B is true.
P2: A is true.
C1: B is false.
Accepting the second term and denying the first:
P1: A or B is true.
P2: B is true.
C1: A is false.
Denying the first term and accepting the second:
P1: A or B is true.
P2: A is false.
C1: B is true.
Denying the second term and accepting the first:
P1: A or B is true.
P2: B is false.
C1: A is true.
[edit] Error
Affirming a disjunct is fallacious because both options can be true at the same time, making the conclusion invalid.
[edit] Examples
[edit] Is the bird alive?
P1: The bird is alive or on the ground. P2: The bird is on the ground. C1: Therefore, it is not alive.
Both disjuncts can be true - a bird can be both alive and on the ground.
[edit] Who died on the fourth of July, 1826?
Thomas Jefferson! P1: Either Thomas Jefferson or John Adams died on the fourth of July, 1826. P2: Thomas Jefferson died on the fourth of July, 1826. C1: Therefore, John Adams did not die on the fourth of July, 1826.
John Adams! P1: Either Thomas Jefferson or John Adams died on the fourth of July, 1826. P2: John Adams died on the fourth of July, 1826. C1: Therefore, Thomas Jefferson did not die on the fourth of July, 1826.[1]
[edit] Is Max a mammal?
P1: Max is a cat or Max is a mammal.
P2: Max is a cat.
C1: Therefore, Max is not a mammal.[2]
The problem here is that "or" is in an inclusive sense, not an exclusive sense. It is possible for something to be both a cat and a mammal.
[edit] Fact or theory?
P1: Evolution is either a theory or a fact. P2: Evolution is a theory. C1: Thus, evolution is not a fact.[3]
[edit] Who's on the cover?
P1: To be on the cover of Vogue Magazine, one must be a celebrity or very beautiful.
P2: This month's cover was a celebrity.
C1: Therefore, this celebrity is not very beautiful.[2]
Again, "or" is in an inclusive sense.
[edit] Non-fallacious use
The only reason this fallacy occurs is because of inclarity in the term "or" and the logical structure of the argument.
[edit] Different "or"
You only fallaciously affirm a disjunct when something is not a dilemma -- when both options can be true -- but you assert that only one can be true. If something truly is a dilemma, then affirming a disjunct is not fallacious. For example:
P1: Amy is alive or dead.
P2: Amy is alive.
C1: Amy is not dead.
This is a valid conclusion because the "or" is exclusive -- only one may be true at a time.
"Or" usually has two meanings in logic:[1]
- Inclusive (or "weak") disjunction (A or B): Implies A, or B, or both. One or both of the disjuncts is true, which is what is meant by the "and/or" of legalese. Affirming a Disjunct is a non-validating form of argument when "or" is inclusive, as it is usually interpreted in propositional logic.
- Exclusive (or "strong") disjunction (A xor B): Implies A, or B, but not both. Exactly one of the disjuncts is true.
[edit] Enthymeme
Alternately, one can view this fallacy as that of a hidden or suppressed premise.[1]
Consider this reformulation of the first form of affirming a disjunct:
P1: A or B is true.
P1.5: A and B can't both be true.
P2: A is true.
C1: B is false.
This statement is logically valid.
If we have reason to think that such a hidden premise is true (perhaps through tone of voice, outside knowledge, etc.) then we might assume that an exclusionary premise P1.5 exists. If, alternately, it is possible for both A and B to be true, it should be assumed that no such hidden premise exists.
[edit] External links
- AFFIRMING A DISJUNCT, Logically Fallacious
- Affirming a disjunct, Philosophy Index
- Affirming a disjunct, LogFall
- Affirming the Disjunct, How to Never Be Wrong Again
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Affirming a Disjunct, Fallacy Files
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 See the Wikipedia article on Affirming a disjunct.
- ↑ Affirming a disjunct, Iron Chariots