Logical Fallacies

Logical Fallacy

illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points . . . often identified because they lacked evidence that supports the claim

Ad Hominem

attack on the person, or the character of the person, rather than his or her arguments or opinions

Ad Hominem Example

Michael Vick isn’t a good football player; he is a criminal who is cruel to animals (dog fighter)

Argument from False Reality - other name

argument from false authority

Argument from False Reality

presenting an unqualified person or institution as source of credible information

Argument from False Reality Example

My cousin bob works as a mechanic at oil changers, and he says that renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, aren’t going to provide any help in fixing our nation’s energy crisis.

Circular Reasoning

a fallacious argument that restates the argument or claim rather than proving it

Circular Reasoning Example

the president of the U.S. is a good leader because he is the leader of the country

False Dilemma

unfair oversimplification of an issue by providing only two options as a possible solution

False Dilemma Example

if you do not say the pledge of allegiance then you must be a traitor

Faulty Causality

incorrect assumption that one event caused another event

Faulty Causality Example

my grandmother ate 10 clover of raw garlic everyday - not surprisingly she lived to be 103

Hasty Generalization

a conclusion, or a claim, that is based on insufficient evidence

Hasty Generalization Example

even though it is only the first day of school, I can already tell I’m going to hate this year

Red Herring

logic fallacy that is a diversion tactic that leads people away from the key or real issue

Red Herring Example

Energy drinks can be potentially very dangerous. However, how else are students supposed to have enough energy to study and get good grades?

Slippery Slope

This fallacy occurs when a person argues that an event will inevitably happen without providing any examples that this may happen. In most cases, a series of steps is intentionally left out.

Slippery Slope Example

School districts have the ability to monitor students internet use at school; therefore, the districts will eventually monitor all students’ internet activity.

Straw Man

This logical fallacy happens when someone oversimplifies or misrepresents another person’s argument in order to make it easier to attack.

Straw Man Example

Person 1: I like the rain.

Person 2: Yes, but if it never sunny out, people will suffer from vitamin D deficiency, all of our crops will die, and we will die of starvation.