Logical Fallacies

Hasty Generalization

Making assumptions about an entire group based on a sample that is too small or unrepresentative.

Hasty Generalization

Example "My roommate's philosophy class was hard and mine is hard too, so all philosophy classes must be hard."

Missing the point

The premises support a conclusion, but not the conclusion the arguer actually draws.

Missing the point

Example Drunk driving is serious, so the punishment should be the death penalty.

post hoc (false cause)

Assuming that because event B happened after event A, A caused B

Post Hoc

Example Taxes were raised and then crime increased, so raising taxes caused crime.

slippery slope

Claiming that a small first step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without sufficient evidence.

Slippery slope

Example Animal experimentation will lead to loss of respect for life and the end of civilization.

Weak analogy

Comparing two things that are not similar in the relevant ways.

Weak analogy

Example Guns are like hammers, so restricting guns is ridiculous.

Appeal to Authority

Using an authority who is not qualified or relevant to support a claim.

Appeal to Authority

Example An actor's opinion is used to argue against the death penalty.

Appeal to pity

Trying to win acceptance of a conclusion by evoking sympathy instead of providing relevant reasons.

appeal to pity

Example I deserve an A because my week was really hard.

Appeal to Ignorance

Arguing that a claim is true or false because it has not been proven otherwise.

Appeal to Ignorance

Example God does not exist because no one has proven God exists.

Straw man

Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Straw Man

Example You want more education funding, so you want unlimited spending with no oversight.

Red Herring

Introducing an irrelevant issue to distract from the main argument.

Red Herring

Example Grading on a curve is fair because it helps students and professors get along.

False Dichotomy

Presenting only two options when more alternatives exist.

False Dichotomy

Example Either we tear down the building or risk student safety.

Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning)

An argument that assumes its conclusion in its premise.

Begging the Question

Example Euthanasia is morally acceptable because it is ethical to help someone die.

Equivocation

Using a key word or phrase in two different meanings within the same argument.

Equivocation

Example Charity is the right thing to do, so charities have a right to our money.

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.

Ad Hominem

Example You're entitled, so your argument is wrong.

Tu Quoque

Discrediting an argument by accusing the speaker of hypocrisy.

Tu Quoque

Example Don't run stop signs-well, you do it all the time!