Logical Fallacies Study Guide

Argument to the People (Appealing to Stirring Symbols)

Appeals to the emotions of the audience, often using charged language and imagery.

Appeal to Ignorance

Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false, or vice versa.

Appeal to Popularity—Bandwagon

Suggesting that a claim is true because many people believe it.

Appeal to Pity

Manipulating emotions to elicit pity in order to gain support for a claim.

Red Herring

Introducing irrelevant material to divert attention from the original issue.

Appeal to False Authority

Using an authority figure to endorse a claim when the authority lacks relevant expertise.

Ad Hominem—to the Person

Attacking the character of the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.

Poisoning the Well

Presenting adverse information about an opponent to undermine their argument before they even present it.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

Hasty Generalization

Making a rushed conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

Part for the Whole

Assuming that what is true for a part is true for the whole (or vice versa).

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

Assuming causation from correlation, specifically: if one event follows another, the first must be the cause of the second.

Begging the Question—Circular Reasoning

An argument that assumes what it is trying to prove, creating a lack of evidence.

False Dilemma—Either/Or

Presenting two options as the only possibilities when more exist.

Slippery Slope

Suggesting that a minor action will lead to major and oftentimes ludicrous consequences.

False Analogy

Making a misleading comparison between two unrelated things.

Non-sequitur

A conclusion that does not logically follow from the premises.

Loaded Label or Definition

Using emotionally charged language to define an idea, influencing perception without logical support.