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]

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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 ?

One may contemplate the fallacy of ignoratio elenchi in classical logic (see Walton 2008: 100 et passim), i.e.

Compounds as idioms. A case study of a 'meta-trend'

As I see it, Boonin's argument is an ignoratio elenchi: It presupposes that the unwanted relinquishing of any wanted thing is a harm (or a "loss" in the sense of being a net loss), and presupposes that to show that someone has suffered a harm, all you have to do is show that he has lost what he wants.

Ayn Rand on punishment

En segundo lugar, los autores practican sistematicamente la ignoratio elenchi. Es decir, sustituyen una proposicion o doctrina por otra y vuelven a favor de la segunda de ellas los argumentos que se usaban a favor o en contra de la primera.