CLASSIFICATION OF FALLACIES. 347 



Yet, though the five classes run into each other, 

 and a particular error often seems to be arbitrarily 

 assigned to one of them rather than to any of the 

 rest, there is considerable use in so distinguishing 

 them. We shall find it convenient to set apart, as 

 Fallacies of Confusion, those of which confusion is the 

 most obvious characteristic; in which no other cause 

 can be assigned for the mistake committed, than neglect 

 or inability to state the question properly, and to ap- 

 prehend the evidence with definiteness and precision. 

 In the remaining four classes I shall place not only 

 the comparatively few cases in which the evidence is 

 clearly seen to be what it is, and yet a wrong conclu- 

 sion drawn from it, but also those in which, although 

 there be confusion, the confusion is not the sole cause 

 of the error, but there is some shadow of a ground for 

 it in the nature of the evidence itself. And in distri- 

 buting these cases of partial confusion among the four 

 classes, I shall, when there can be any hesitation as 

 to the precise seat of the fallacy, suppose it to be in 

 that part of the process in which from the nature of 

 the case, and the known infirmities of the human 

 mind, an error would in the particular circumstances 

 be the most probable. 



After these observations we shall proceed, without 

 further preamble, to consider the five classes in their 

 order. 



