Logical Fallacies Vocabulary

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person instead of the argument. Example: You can't trust her opinion on school lunches—she failed math last year.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack. Example: She wants to cut the school’s budget? Wow

False Dilemma (Either/Or Fallacy)

Presenting only two options when more exist. Example: You’re either with us or against us.

Slippery Slope

Arguing that one step will lead to a chain of negative events. Example: If we allow phones in class

Circular Reasoning

Using the conclusion as a premise without real evidence. Example: I deserve a later curfew because I should be allowed to stay out late.

Hasty Generalization

Making a broad claim based on little evidence. Example: I met two rude people from New York—everyone from there must be mean.

Red Herring

Distracting from the real issue by bringing up something irrelevant. Example: Why worry about the environment when there are people who don’t have jobs?

Bandwagon

Arguing something is true or right because everyone else believes it. Example: Everyone is vaping

Post Hoc (False Cause)

Assuming that because one thing happened after another

Appeal to Emotion

Using emotions instead of logic to persuade. Example: If you don’t donate now

Appeal to Authority

Using an authority figure as evidence

False Equivalence

Claiming two things are the same when they’re not. Example: Cheating on a test is no worse than lying to your friend.