Logical Fallacies Overview

A collection of flashcards defining common logical fallacies and errors in reasoning.

Logical Fallacy

A mistake in reasoning that makes an argument weak.

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person instead of the argument.

Slippery Slope

Suggesting one small step will lead to extreme consequences without proof.

False Dilemma

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Bandwagon

Claiming something is true or good just because many people believe it.

Hasty Generalization

Making a conclusion based on too little evidence.

Appeal to Authority

Relying on the opinion of an authority figure as evidence for a claim, even if the authority isn't an expert on the topic.

Appeal to Emotion

Manipulating emotions to win an argument instead of using logical reasoning.

Appeal to Ignorance

Arguing that a claim is true because there is no evidence to disprove it, or false because there is no evidence to prove it.

Red Herring

Introducing irrelevant information into an argument to distract from the main issue at hand.

Straw Man

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

Causal Fallacy (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc)

Assuming that because one event happened after another, the first event must have caused the second.

Circular Reasoning (Begging the Question)

Using the argument's conclusion as one of its premises, creating a closed loop of logic.

False Analogy

Comparing two things that are not sufficiently similar in relevant aspects, making the analogy misleading.