Correlative based fallacies
Correlative based fallacies, also known as fallacies of distraction, are logical fallacies based on correlative conjunctions. A correlative conjunction is a relationship between two statements where one must be false and the other true. In formal logic this is known as the exclusive or relationship. Examples of correlatives are:
- A: Object one is larger than object two.
- B: Object one is smaller or the same size as object two.
- A: Fido is a dog.
- B: Fido is not a dog.
Fallacies based on correlatives include:
- The false dilemma or false correlative. Here something which is not a correlative is treated as a correlative, excluding some other valid possibility.
- The fallacy of denying the correlative, where an attempt is made to introduce some other invalid option into what is a true correlative.
- The fallacy of suppressed correlative, where the definitions of a correlative are changed so that one of the options includes the other, making one option impossible.
