Fallacies of

Presumption
In fallacies of presumption, too much is assumed
in
the premises.

Assuming?

Fallacies of Presumption
Some mistakes in everyday reasoning
are the consequence of an unjustified
assumption
In fallacious arguments of this kind the
premises may indeed be relevant to the
conclusion drawn
but that relevance is likely to flow
from the tacit supposition of what has not
been given support and may even be
unsupportable.

Three common fallacies are

included in this category
Accident
Complex question
Begging the question

Accident
In fallacy of accident, we
assume that the generalization
applies universally
A fallacy in which a
generalization is mistakenly
applied to a particular case to
which the generalization does
not apply.

Examples of Accident
1. I believe one should never
deliberately hurt another person,
thats why I can never be a
surgeon.
Classifying surgery under
hurting someone, is to ignore the
obvious benefits that go with
surgery.

Examples of Accident
2. The Bible clearly says, thou shall not
bear false witness, therefore, as a
Christian, you better answer the killer
who is looking for your wife, otherwise
you are defying God.
To assume any law, even divine, applies
to every person, in every time, in every
situation, even though not explicitly
stated, is an assumption not grounded in
evidence, and fallacious reasoning.

Exception
The Bible says, thou shall not
murder, therefore, as a Christian,
you better put that chainsaw down
and untie that little kid.
Stating the general rule when a good
argument can be made that the action
in question is a violation of the rule,
would not be considered fallacious.
Tip: An exception is applied to cases
where the generalization should apply.

Complex question
One of the most common fallacies
of presumption is to ask a question
in such a way as to presuppose
the truth of some conclusion that
is buried in the question.
The question itself is likely to be
rhetorical, with no answer actually
being sought.

Examples of Complex
Question
1. Lawyer: The figures seem to
indicate that your sales increased as
a result of these misleading
advertisements. Is that correct?
Witness: They did not!
Lawyer: But you do admit, then, that
your advertising was misleading.
How long have you been engaging in
practices like these?
The denial of only one
presupposition may lead to the

Examples of Complex
Question

2. How many times per day do you

beat your wife?
Even if the response is none!
the damage has been done. If you
are hearing this question, you are
more likely to accept the possibility
that the person who was asked this
question is a wife-beater, which is
fallacious reasoning on your part.

Tip
When a question is complex, and all
of its presuppositions are to be
denied, they must be denied
individually
Here is an illustration from a
notorious murder trial:
Q: Lizzie, did you not take an axe and
whack your mother forty times, and
then whack your father forty-one times
when faced with the prospect of cold
mutton stew?
A: Not true. We were to eat Brussels
sprouts fondue that day.

Begging the Question

(Petitio Principii)
An informal fallacy in which the conclusion
of an argument is stated or assumed in
any one of the premises. Also known as
circular argument and petitio principii.
Also known as the chicken and the egg
argument
They are relevant; indeed, they prove the
conclusion, but they do so triviallythey
end where they began

Examples of Begging the

Question
1. Paranormal activity is real because I
have experienced what can only be
described as paranormal activity.
The claim, paranormal activity is real is
supported by the premise, I have
experienced what can only be described as
paranormal activity. The premise
presupposes, or assumes, that the claim,
paranormal activity is real is already true.
the conclusion is claimed or the truth of
the conclusion is assumed

Examples of Begging the

Question
2. Josh: "God must exist."
Dali: "How do you know."
Josh: "Because the Bible says so."
Dali: "Why should I believe the Bible?"
Josh: "Because the Bible was written
by God.
simply assuming that the conclusion is
true in the premises does not constitute
evidence for that conclusion
simply assuming a claim is true does not
serve as evidence for that claim

Tip
Some assumptions that are
universally accepted could
pass as not being fallacious.
Example:
People like to eat because
we are biologically
influenced to eat.