11

INTRODUCTION TO

PHILOSOPHY OF THE

HUMAN PERSON
1st Quarter: Module 5

Rogelio DG. Burce

Marlon Tiña
Module Writer

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

HUMSS – Grade 11
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 3
First Edition, 2020

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 11
Introduction to
Philosophy of the
Human Person
Quarter 1 – Module 5
FALLACIES IN REASONING
 This instructional material was collaboratively developed and reviewed
by educators from public and private schools, colleges, and or/universities.
We encourage teachers and other education stakeholders to email their
feedback, comments, and recommendations to the Department of Education
at action@deped.gov.ph.

We value your feedback and recommendations.

Content Standard
The learner demonstrates the various ways of doing philosophy
Performance Standard
The learner will be able to evaluates truth from opinions

Most Essential Learning (Week 2)

Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to truth and wisdom

Learning Competency

 Understand the meaning of truth

 Value the significance of inquiry in determining truth

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module the students will be able to;

Distinguish fallacies in reasoning

Avoid fallacies in reasoning

Value the significance of avoiding fallacies in reasoning

EXPECTATION
  This module is intended to you learners of Grade 11 General
Academic Strand classes specifically in your course subject
Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person.
 The lesson included in your module teaches you distinguished
fallacies in reasoning
 It also helps you to identify and avoid some fallacies in reasoning. In
this module there are activities that will guide you to better
understand your lesson.

Are you ready and excited? Let’s start…

PRE-TEST

Multiple Choice: Read the questions carefully. Write the letter of your correct
answer on the space provided.
1. An argument whose conclusion is not adequately supported and/or does not
necessarily have to be the conclusion that can be drawn.
a. formal fallacy b. informal fallacy c. material d.
argument
2. An error of logical form in invalid argument which violates rule of inference or
the principles of deductive logic.
a. formal fallacy b. informal fallacy c. material d.
argument
3. It is a logical error that does not follow the rules of inference or that violates
them.
a. argument b. inquiry c. fallacy d. reasoning
4. It is oftentimes take the form of statements that are either claims of facts and are
phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable.
a. argument b. inquiry c. fallacy d. statement
5. It is the basis of Aristotle’s deductive argument.
a. syllabus b. syllogism c. syllable d. symbol
6. The original language where the word fallacy came from.
a. Greek b. Hebrew c. French d. Latin
7. The word fallacy is from Latin fallacia which means ‘decit,
a.trick b. truth c. argument d. reasoning
8. The following are parts of the basis of Aristotle’s deductive argument except ___.
a. conclusion b. minor premise c. major premise d. introduction
9. The following belongs to the fallacy of appeal except _____.
a. idea b. tradition c. popular d. emotion
10. It is usually the principle which violates in an error of logical form in invalid
argument.
a. inductive b. deductive c. conductive d. superlative

LOOKING BACK

You’re right in your own opinion?

What’s your opinion! Underline the phrase or sentence which simply expressed
opinion and encircle those which states truth.
All people are prone to emotional problems but married people are happier
than unmarried one. They have more chances of succeeding in every career they
choose and would tend to live longer than single person. Working men are more
easily tempted than women because they tend to be secretive and quiet. Some
studies prove that those families who have stronger religious faith are usually
stayed together and lessen the chances of family break up.

INTRODUCTION OF THE LESSON

Clearing up your mind!
Critical thinking is very important commodities in the broader market of
ideas with many fishy thoughts and foul smell of reasoning. Distinguishing most if
not all of the fallacies in reasoning would surely help us avoid the poisonous effects
of intellectual funeral of every thinking consumer in this wonderful rational world.

What is it?

Lesson: Don’t Fall into Fallacies!

I. Definition Faulty Reasoning
The word fallacy is from Latin fallacia which means ‘decit,’ ‘trick’). A fallacy
is a logical error that does not follow the rules of inference or that violates them.
This is a misleading argument sometimes used to deceive people. Reason - the use
of argument - is the main tool not only by claimed philosophers but by every
rational people.
Arguments often take the form of statements that are either claims of facts
and are phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable. However, a number of
arguments may be based on faulty reasoning. These kinds of arguments are called
fallacies. Some of these fallacies may be intentional, as the person making the
claim is desperate to convince you to accept his or her argument. The following are
examples of fallacies.
II. Division of Fallacies
1. Formal – An error of logical form in invalid argument which violates rule of
inference or the principles of deductive logic. The basis of Aristotle’s deductive
argument was the syllogism, which has three parts-major premise, minor premise
and conclusion.
Example: Major premise: All humans are mortal.
Minor premise: All Greeks are humans.
Conclusion: All Greeks are mortal.
In valid syllogisms, at least one of the two premises must contain a universal
form (i.e. using the word ‘all’). If both premises are particulars (using the word
‘some’), then no valid conclusion can result from them. Also one of the premises
must be affirmative.
Example: Some dogs are dangerous.
Some dangerous things are volcanoes.
It does not follow that ‘some dogs are volcanoes’ (because both premises are
particulars).
2. Informal – An argument whose conclusion (a) is not adequately supported
and/or (b) does not necessarily have to be the conclusion that can be drawn. There
are forty informal fallacies but we will discuss only nine of the most common
fallacies as presented by Dr. Abella in his book “Introduction to Philosophy of the
Human person.”

Types of Informal Fallacy

Fallacy Characteristics Example
ad hominem Attacking the person
presenting the argument
instead of the person itself
appeal to force Using the threat of force
or an undesirable event to
advance an argument
appeal to emotion Using an emotions such
as pity or empathy
appeal to the popular The idea is presented as
acceptable to people
because a lot of people
accept it.
appeal to tradition the idea is acceptable
because it has been true
for a long time
begging the question asuming the thing or the
idea to be proven is true.
Also known as “circular
reasoning”
cause-and-effect assuming a cause and
effected relationship
between unrelated events
“Of course he believes
that the government is
flawed and he is a rebel
and a communist!”
“If this peace agreement
will not be signed by the
government, then we will
not have no recourse but
go to war.”
“All these charges are
baseless, this is just plain
harassment -can’t you see
how this is affecting my
family?”
“Every boy your age
already has a girlfriend,
you should go find one.”
“Marriage should be
between man and woman.
It has been so for a long
time in this country, it
should remain so today
and in the future.”
“I have a right for free
speech, therefore you
cannot stop me from
talking.”
“Ever since you bought
that sweater, everything
has been going wrong in
your life. You should get

fallacy of composition
fallacy of division
rid of it.”
assuming that what is “These cases of robbery in
true of a part is true for this district have
the whole convinced me that this
city has become a den of
thieves and criminals
assuming that what is “You come from a family
true of the whole is true of doctors and
for its parts intellectuals! Surely you
can do better in this
course.”

What’s More (Activity)

Activity 1: Stand your position

State your position in different local issues today. Give your arguments
with strong evidences and exposing some of the fallacies committed by those in the
other side.
Decide on some social local issues today
A. Issue: Closure of ABS-CBN
B. Your Position: ________________________
RUBRICS:
C. Your Evidences/Arguments:
Content The argument strongly 5
defended with reliable
evidences
Communicatio Used only simple words or 5
layman’s term.
n

Total 10

1.______________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________

A. Issue: West Philippine Sea

B. Your Position: ________________________
C. Your Evidence/Argument
1. ____________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________

Guide Questions;
1. Among the issues discussed which do you are very significant? Why?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What are some of the difficulties you encountered in distinguishing fallacies?
___________________________________________________________________________

Truth over rules!

Activity 2- News Evaluation

Look for some news in television or radio or internet which manifested some
fallacies in reasoning.

News Source (Network, etc.) Fallacies in reasoning

1.

2.

3.

Activity 3: When Truth Applied by avoiding fallacies!

Complete the table by stating how can you avoid the fallacies in your life as
student and Filipino citizen.
Fallacies to Avoid Situation in your life
 As student As Filipino citizen
1.
2.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

What I CAN Do?

Identify the kind of fallacies being described in the following statement and
give its main characteristics

Statement Fallacies Characteristics

Example: The idea is presented as
“Every boy your age Appeal to the popular acceptable to people
already has a girlfriend, because a lot of people
you should go find one.” accept it.
“Everything he is going to 1. 2.
say is a lie because he is a
former criminal.”
“If you will not vote for 3. 4.
me, this country surely
suffers great trouble.”
“Since you are a son of a 5. 6.
pastor, you should have
more knowledge in the
Bible.”
“Stop doing all these 7. 8.
things because my jobs
and my health are now
affected.”
“Ever since you went into 9. 10.
that place, everything has
been going well in your
life. “

B. Write R if the action is Right and W, if it is Wrong.

11._____ An ex-convict do not have a credibility to stand as witness in court.
12._____Some actions which has been doing by most people will be automatically
considered as right.
13._____ Not because all his brothers are genius he will be expected to be genius
also.
14._____ A beggar should not be liable in any criminal case because of his
desperate condition.
15._____ Just because all of the terrorist in 911 were Muslims, we can conclude
that most of Muslims are violent people.

ENRICHMENT

Congratulations! You are almost done becoming a good politically oriented

person. Kindly answer the following questions based in your own political
understanding.

1. As student, how can you avoid the Fallacies especially during this time of
pandemic?
_______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. How can you explain and relate it in the quotation by Francis Bacon that
“Knowledge is power?”

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________