Correlative-based fallacies

In logic, correlative-based fallacies, also known as fallacies of distraction, are logical fallacies based on correlative conjunctions.

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; traditionally, terms between which this relationship exists have been called contradictories.

Examples

In the following example, statement b explicitly negates statement a:

1. Fido is a dog.
2. Fido is not a dog.

Statements can also be mutually exclusive, without explicitly negating each other as in the following example:

1. Object one is larger than object two.
2. Object one is smaller or the same size as object two.

Fallacies

Fallacies based on correlatives include:

False dilemma or false correlative.

Here something which is not a correlative is treated as a correlative, excluding some other possibility.

Denying the correlative

where an attempt is made to introduce another option into a true correlative.

Suppressed correlative

where the definitions of a correlative are changed so that one of the options includes the other, making one option impossible.

See also

• Logical conjunction
• Logical disjunction