Fallacies

Fallacies
Definition:
* errors in thinking
* Stated in way that they
sound logical
* accepted as common sense
1. Against the person
Name Calling/Ad Hominem
Attacking the individual rather than the argument
Focus is shifted from the argument to the person’s
appearance, personal habits, character
Ex: I can’t trust him because he has been divorced
twice.
2. Appeal to authority
Testimonial
Assumes that the authority or reputation of
individuals is evidence of the reliability of their
opinion
Ex: He is an Oscar winner, so the care he is advertising
for must be a good brand
3. Appeal to pity/Emotionally Loaded
Terms
Attempts to win support by arousing pity instead of
addressing the real issue
Ex: I think my essay should get a passing grade
because I missed my work yesterday and stayed up all
night to get it finished
Oh come on, I've been sick. That's why I missed the
deadline.
4. Appeal to the people
Bandwagon
Maintains that something is right because a group of
people think it is
Ex: 70% of Americans voters support the invasion of
any dictatorship hostile, so should you
• The majority of people like soda. Therefore, soda is good.
5.Circular definition
Begging the question
Restate opinion as part of its support; repeating the
initial opinion but in different words
Ex: Pornography is dangerous because it harms lives
A man has to do what he has to do
God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible is
inspired. Therefore, we know that God exists.
6 Either-or Thinking
Assumes that there are only 2 alternatives when, in
fact, there are many
Ex: America, love it or leave it
7 False Analogy
Uses a comparison in which the differences between
two things are greater than their similarities or in
which the similarities are irrelevant
Ex: Television is a plug-in drug
8.False Cause
Post Hoc
Assumes a cause-effect relationship between two
discrete events in time; it is related to superstition
Ex: I broke the mirror today. I failed my exam too. The
mirror caused me bad luck
 Yesterday I forgot to take my vitamins, and this
morning I woke up with a cold. Now I know that
taking vitamins really does prevent colds.
 When the rooster crows, the sun rises. Therefore, the
rooster causes the sun to rise.
9.Hasty Generalization
Draws a conclusion founded on inadequate
information.
When you base your conclusion on one example.
Professor Thomas’s examinations re easy because
today’s exam was piece of cake.
10. Oversimplification
Ignores essential information an opinion is based on
Offering simple explanations for complicated
problems
Ex. There is nothing difficult about writing an essay; you
only need to meet the required word length and avoid
errors in grammar and punctuation
11. Red Herring
Diverts discussion of an issue by introducing another
EX: I know I forgot to deposit the check into the bank,
but nothing I do pleases you.
EX: I know we have to address the city’s use of
landfills, but the problem of illiteracy among high
school graduates is more important right now.
12. Slippery Slope
Claims that an action shouldn’t be taken because
doing so will lead to a chain of undesirable events.
You should never gamble; once you gamble you find it
hard to stop. Soon you are spending all your money on
gambling and eventually you will turn to crime to
support your earnings.
Not only will people smoke less frequently, many may
quit or even not start.
13. Non Sequitur – False Cause
Comments or information that do not logically
follow from a premise or the conclusion.
Example: We know why it rained today: because I
washed my car
Not only will people smoke less frequently, many may
quit or even not start
Your Turn
If we pass laws against fully automatic weapons, then
it won't be long before we pass laws on all weapons,
and then we will begin to restrict other rights, and
finally we will end up living in a communist state.
Thus, we should not ban fully automatic weapons
Government is like business, so just as business must
be sensitive primarily to the bottom line, so also must
government
A book is pornographic if and only if it contains
pornography
Satanist Quarterly reports that 87% of Americans are
atheists. Therefore, there is no god
Immigration to California from Mexico increased.
Soon after, the welfare rolls increased. Therefore, the
increased immigration caused the increase in welfare
rolls
My roommate said that her philosophy class as hard.
The one I am in now is hard too; all philosophy classes
must be hard
Providing daycare for toddlers is like herding cats
We shouldn't even bother to interview that job
applicant. He has a beard.
Pain-Away worked for me, so it's sure to work for you,
too
In the future, everyone will wear Design Plus
sunglasses. Why wait until then?
Many people who eat meat are overweight. Eating
meat causes obesity
We shouldn't approve her loan because she once had a
drinking problem
"Either finish school or look forward to an
unsatisfying life and a low-paying job
America: love it or leave it
I drank that bottled water and now I am sick; so the
water must have made me sick
We know that God exists since the holy books say God
exists. What the holy books say must me true,
Gay marriages are immoral. 70% of Americans think
so
Look, you have to make up your mind. Decide whether
you can afford this stereo, or you have to do without
music for a while.
Evolution states that one species can change into
another. We see that cars have evolved into different
styles. Therefore, since evolution is a fact in cars, it is
true in species.

Fallacies

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