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:''Main article: [[Contradiction]]''

:''Main article: [[Contradiction]]''

A contradiction is a statement that contradicts its own terms. [[Aristotle]] famously stated that contradictions cannot exist. In any case of a contradition, some of the premises must be false. A contradiction follows the form:

A contradiction is a statement that contradicts its own terms. [[Aristotle]] famously stated that contradictions cannot exist. In any case of a contradition, some of the premises must be false. A contradiction is an argument which includes in its reasoning:

*P

*P

====Your theory does not work under my theory, so your theory must be wrong====

====Your theory does not work under my theory, so your theory must be wrong====

: ''Main article: [[Your theory does not work under my theory, so your theory must be wrong]]''

: ''Main article: [[Your theory does not work under my theory, so your theory must be wrong]]'' <!-- note: a Google search for this phrase show that it is exclusive to CreationWiki (well, and now Conservapedia) -->

<!-- note: a Google search for this phrase show that it is exclusive to CreationWiki (well, and now Conservapedia) -->

 

The judgment of a theory by the premises and assumptions of another theory, rather than against its own premises and assumptions. This form of fallacy follows the form:

The judgment of a theory by the premises and assumptions of another theory, rather than against its own premises and assumptions. This form of fallacy follows the form:

:''Main article: [[Straw man fallacy]]

:''Main article: [[Straw man fallacy]]

A straw man fallacy occurs by first incorrectly attributing an argument to someone, disproving this argument, then claiming that the person was wrong. Straw man arguments are often found in politics.

A straw man fallacy occurs by first incorrectly attributing an argument to someone, disproving this argument, then claiming that the person was wrong. A straw man argument follows the form:

 

Straw man arguments can sometimes be hard to detect, because a valid statement may be used in a distorted fashion. For example:

Straw man arguments can sometimes be hard to detect, because a valid statement may be used in a distorted fashion. For example:

===Tautology===

===Tautology===

A [[tautology]] ([[Greek]] '''ταυτα''' ''tauta'', "these") is an argument that becomes a repetition of a definition. Literally it means "the study of this" or "the study of these." Such an argument, or statement, can prove nothing beyond itself and is useless as a premise.

A [[tautology]] ([[Greek]] '''ταυτα''' ''tauta'', "these") is an argument that becomes a repetition of a definition. Literally it means "the study of this" or "the study of these." Such an argument, or statement, can prove nothing beyond itself and is useless as a premise.