Study of Common Logical Fallacies - Philosophy

Hasty Generalization

The use of unrepresentative,

insufficient, and/or irrelevant evidence

to come to a general conclusion.

Post-hoc Fallacy

Because two events follow each other in

time, one concludes that the first event

caused the second.

Non Sequitur Fallacy

An argument with a missing claim.

Begging the Question

An argument in which the conclusion is

used as one of the premises.

Straw Man Fallacy

Oversimplification or distortion of

opposing views.

Fallacy of False Analogy

Because two things are alike in some

respects, they are not necessarily alike

in all respects.

Argument from Ignorance

One cannot argue something to be true

simply because it has not been proven

false.

Scare Tactics

Exaggerating fears as a

means of persuasion.

Argumentum ad Baculum

appeal to force

Ad Misericordiam

appeal to pity

Transfer

associating a popular figure

or cause with a different issue

Bandwagon

reasoning that something

is true because everyone accepts it as

true. (ad populum)

Either/Or Fallacy

The false presentation of two options as

the only possible solutions to a problem.

Slippery Slope

A fallacy of argument that exaggerates

the consequences of an action without

reasonable support.

Ad Hominem

attacking the rhetor's

personal character rather than the issue

False Authority

a fallacy of argument

in which a claim is based on the

expertise of someone who lacks

appropriate credentials.

Dogmatism

a fallacy of argument in

which a claim is supported on the

grounds that its' the only conclusion

acceptable within a given community.

Stacking the Deck

a fallacy in which

the rhetor presents only evidence that

supports his claim, ignoring all evidence to the contrary