Correlative based fallacies - Definition and Overview

In logic, correlative based fallacies, also known as fallacies of distraction, are logical fallacies based on 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. Examples of correlatives are:

A: Object one is larger than object two.

B: Object one is smaller or the same size as object two.

A: Fido is a dog.

B: Fido is not a dog.

Fallacies based on correlatives include:

• The false dilemma or false correlative. Here something which is not a correlative is treated as a correlative, excluding some other valid possibility.

• The fallacy of denying the correlative, where an attempt is made to introduce some other invalid option into what is a true correlative.

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

• The false choice, in which options are presented as being exclusive, when that is not the case.