fallacy terms

accent

shifting emphasis in deceptive way

accident

trying to disprove statement (that is usually true) by using a specific example

ad hoc

using off-the-cuff (no evidence); random explanation

amphiboly

the phrases and sentences that have a double meaning; misleading points

“I shot an elephant in my pajamas” →shooting an elephant while wearing pajamas, OR, shooting one that was inside your pajamas

argumentum ad ignorantum

argumentation from ignorance, no evidence

argumentum ad baculum

argument of the stick; threatening TO YOU; intimidating people to get what you want

argumentum ad hominem

to attack the person instead of the argument

argumentum ad misericordiam

use emotion or pity to hide actual argument

→Students using excuses to make teachers accept late homework

argumentum ad nauseam

belief that something will come true if repeated

argumentum ad populum (bandwagon)

argument of something popular so everyone will do it

argumentum ad verecundiam

appeal to authority but to an area outside authority’s expertise

—>Harry Styles selling cars, when he doesn’t know anything about cars

black and white argument (false dilemma)

presenting “either or” situation when there are other options available

bullshit (bs)

concealing the intended meaning

→”We need to get tough on crime” because vague sentence, avoiding any actual solutions, only statement

*ALL BARK NO BITE

complex question

double question, when first is assumed to be yes

composition

group must have same characteristic/qualities as members

→ one player plays good, so everyone/team has to play good

division

individual must have characteristic of the group
→dogs are common pets, doubermans are dogs, so doubermans are common pets

equivocation

using same term with different meanings

→ Law: Law of science vs. law by authority, law cannot be both of these because they’re two completely different things

fallacy of the beard

assuming that individual actions do not have a collective impact

hasty generalization

generalize base off few examples

→basing a conclusion based off few encounters

ignoratio elenchi (red herring)

use of another issue, usually emotion, to draw attention from something else

→somebody says someone SA someone, but distracts by saying what they did for the economy

*PAY ATTENTION TO THIS

nonsequitur

conclusion doesn’t follow from the preceding argument; flaw in logic

→Someone who doesn’t drink or smoke is a good husband

begging the question/circular reasoning

assuming conclusion as proof, seen as cause and effect of each other

→Reading is important because it is essential to know how to read

post hoc/false cause

something that is stated to be the result of something else when no casual connection can be found : falsely claimed

→three different diseases but placing it on one disease, when in reality it was all three

Slippery Slope

If Event A happens, it will bring event B (undesirable results)

→phones in school, students will not pay attention, they are going to fail, then never graduate

special pleading

reasoning that the rules shouldn’t apply to this special case

→Need to go to bed by 9, because sleep is important. “But you stay until 12 AM” Well I don’t need to because I’m an adult.

strawman (arguing off point)

when an opponent claim is misinterpret or overstated in order to be attacked or refuted

*PICKING OFF

→vegan doesn’t use animal products because they don’t want animals to suffer, straw man: so you think you're better because other people eat animals

Truth is in the middle

claim that average gives you the true picture, when it is not true

facts and figures to tell what is true but not accurate

→Climate change is true or hoax, so the truth is in between

false analogy

wrongful comparison of dissimilar situations

→School and jobs, students are paid with grades and teachers are bosses but jobs are for money and school is for learning

poisoning the well

unfavorable information is presented therefore any claims made after will be false

→ trump says Biden is involved in many countries and scandals, so poisoned the mind for tainted vision of someone

Stereotyping

using stereotypes as if they're accurate generalizations for the whole group

→ German people are not good at dancing, so that German girl probably does not dance well