Abstracts
Abstract
This paper provides methodological tools and considers the reasons why it is difficult to address the controversial question, “Are fallacies frequent?” After preliminary remarks on the need to clarify the meaning of both ‘fallacy’ and ‘frequency,’ this paper shows that the emphasis on whether fallacies occur frequently is recent and bound to contemporary definitions that make it a necessary condition. Then, it discusses three different, debated empirical approaches that are intended to support the claim that fallacies are frequent. All of them raise doubts or objections or are even controversial from a methodological point of view. Ultimately, more empirical research is needed to answer this question.
Keywords:
- argument,
- communication,
- error,
- fallacies,
- frequency,
- logic,
- reasoning
Résumé
Cet article fournit des outils méthodologiques et envisage les raisons rendant difficile de traiter la question controversée : « Les sophismes sont-ils fréquents ? » Après des préliminaires sur la nécessité de clarifier la signification de ’sophisme ‘ comme celle de ‘fréquence’, il montre que l’insistance sur le thème de la fréquence d’occurrence des sophismes est récente et liée à des définitions contemporaines en faisant une condition nécessaire. Il discute ensuite trois approches différentes, controversées, censées étayer la thèse de la fréquence des sophismes. Or, toutes soulèvent doutes ou objections ou s’avèrent controversées d’un point de vue méthodologique. Finalement, un complément d’enquête empirique est attendu pour répondre à la question.
Appendices
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