ignoratio elenchi

Related to ignoratio elenchi: petitio principii

ignoratio elenchi

(ˌɪɡnəˈreɪʃɪəʊ ɪˈlɛŋkaɪ)

1. (Logic) a purported refutation of a proposition that does not in fact prove it false but merely establishes a related but strictly irrelevant proposition

2. (Logic) the fallacy of arguing in this way

[Latin: an ignorance of proof, translating Greek elenchou agnoia]

ig•no•ra•ti•o e•len•chi

(ˌɪg nəˈreɪ ʃiˌoʊ ɪˈlɛŋ kaɪ, -ki)
n.

a fallacy in logic of offering proof irrelevant to the proposition in question.

[1580–90; < Latin ignōrātiō elenchī literally, ignorance of the refutation]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

ignoratio elenchi - the logical fallacy of supposing that an argument proving an irrelevant point has proved the point at issue

logical fallacy - a fallacy in logical argumentation

Mentioned in ?

logical fallacy

References in periodicals archive ?

Se cometio el error Iogico que en logica formal se denomina ignoratio elenchi, ignorancia del asunto, que en lenguaje vulgar seria sacarle al parche.

?Y donde quedo el debate? Todos le sacaron al parche

En segundo lugar, los autores practican sistematicamente la ignoratio elenchi.

Grabados, mitos, citas. Notas a una replica

In that article, I believed that whole of its contents and subject was full of deception, unfair, lack of common sense, irrational, illusive and a deliberate ignoratio elenchi.

Ramsi's Article:Ignotum per ignotius and very low common Sense (Community)

Doing so, however, to use the words of L/G, "is a blatant instance of the classical fallacy Ignoratio Elenchi.