Logical Fallacies

Ad hominem

A Latin term meaning 'against the man', refers to personally attacking opponents instead of their arguments.

Appeal to authority

A fallacy where the claim is that because a famous person supports an idea, the idea must be right.

Appeal to the bandwagon

A claim that many people believe something, therefore it must be true.

Appeal to emotion

An argument that replaces logic with emotional appeals, such as sympathy or patriotism.

Circular reasoning

An argument that assumes what it is trying to prove, repeating the conclusion without offering evidence.

Cliche thinking

Using a well-known saying as evidence without recognizing its exceptions.

False cause

Assuming that because two things happened in sequence, the first one caused the second.

False dilemma

A fallacy that presents only two options when there are actually more.

Faulty analogy

Claiming that two dissimilar situations are similar enough to draw a conclusion.

Hasty generalization

A conclusion drawn from insufficient or unrepresentative data.

Non sequitur

A conclusion that does not logically follow from its premises; an invalid argument.

Red herring

Introducing an irrelevant point to divert attention from the original issue.

Slippery slope

The assumption that a small first step will lead inevitably to extreme outcomes.

Stacking the deck

Presenting only evidence that supports a premise while ignoring contrary evidence.

Straw man

Distorting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.