Amphiboly
From EvoWiki
(Redirected from Fallacy of Amphiboly)
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This page is part of the EvoWiki encyclopedia of fallacies. |
Contents |
Synonyms
- Amphibole
- Amphibology
- Fallacy of Amphiboly
- Syntactical Ambiguity
Explanation
Amphiboly is when the meaning of a sentence is indeterminate because of the loose or awkward way in which its words are combined, rather than the meaning of the words involved. In contrast to Equivocation, which occurs when the ambiguous meanings of words involved, Amphiboly requires the grammar or structure to be at fault.
An example of an amphibolous statement is: "Last night I shot a burglar in my pyjamas." The meaning is unclear, as either the shooter or the burglar could be wearing the pyjamas, or even the shooting could be taking place in the pyjamas.
Category
Subfallacies
External Links
- Fallacy Files [1]
