In logic, equivocation ('calling two different things by the same name') is an informal fallacy resulting from the use of a particular word/expression in multiple senses within an argument.. Examples. ... saying "It's not the best weather today" during a hurricane would be an example … Although a funny example, the fallacy of equivocation is precisely why people share posts to Facebook and Twitter without reading the article. Often the word will be used in one sense in the premise, and in the other sense in the conclusion, implying that because the word is the same, the meanings are the same. The equivocation fallacy, however, has a tone of deception instead of just a simple misunderstanding. Nothing is better than Hamburgers. 1) Hot dogs are better than nothing. Equivocation. Now Equivocation is speaking to obscure the truth. This use of equivocation is sometimes called a “bait and switch” fallacy because the listener is baited on one meaning of a word, and then the meaning is switched to draw a faulty conclusion. Evolutionists often commit the fallacy of equivocation on the word evolution. This word has a number of meanings. A description of the Logical Fallacy known as Equivocation (Fallacy February & 90 Second Philosophy). The Equivocation fallacy relies on using a word with more than one meaning to set up a misleading argument. The equivocation is occurring because Abbott and Costello are not recognizing the different senses that a word can have. Often this deception shows up in the form of euphemisms, replacing unpleasant words with “nicer” terminology. After all there are already a lot of arguments and conflicts in the world. Virtually every response of theirs will be an Equivocation fallacy… Equivocation is when a word shifts meaning in an argument. This is a popular example, and I do not know the original source. Taxonomy: Logical Fallacy >Informal Fallacy > Ambiguity > Equivocation Subfallacy: Ambiguous Middle Example: The elements of the moral argument on the status of unborn life…strongly favor the conclusion that this unborn segment of humanity has a right not to be killed, at least. Start studying Equivocation. An Example of Equivocation "Equivocation is a common fallacy because it often is quite hard to notice that a shift in meaning has taken place," note "Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric" authors Howard Kahane and Nancy Cavender. Philosophy students are taught how to argue, but shouldn't we teach them something more helpful? So several California Republicans, including Schwarzenegger, who specifically ran on the promise on "No Tax Increases" have just sided with Dems to the biggest state tax hike in US history. Example of Equivocation. The fallacy of equivocation uses misleading terms of more than one meaning without clarifying which definition is intended in the scenario.. ... a logical fallacy in which the writer or speaker assumes the statement under examination to be true. The equivocation fallacy is a logical fallacy that involves alternating between different meanings of a word or phrase, in a way that renders the argument that contains them unsound. Equivocation. Therefore, hot dogs are better than hamburgers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.