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Spotting the difference between formal and informal fallacies

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Original Question

I know the theoretical difference between the two (error in logical form vs error in content/expression) but is there a hard-and-fast method for discerning between them?


 

Answers

2

I know of no such rule (not that one doesn't exist). There aren't that many deductive fallacies, so perhaps memorization is the best method.

The composition of the contents is formal logic, the contents within the composition is informal logic. Kind of like a fine art painting, the composition is the placement of the contents within the painting. 


Formal will work with any argument, informal wont. Likewise, a good compositions will work with any subject matter in a painting. 

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