Logical Fallacies and Literary Terms

Vocabulary flashcards defining common logical fallacies and selected non-fallacy literary and rhetorical terms.

Ad Hominem

An attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or arguments.

Appeal to False Authority

Using an alleged authority as evidence in your argument when the authority is not really an authority on the facts relevant to the argument, or allowing an irrelevant authority to add credibility to the claim being made.

Bandwagon

An appeal that presents what most people, or a group of people think, in order to persuade one to think the same way.

False Analogy

An informal logical fallacy that happens when an argument assumes that because two things are alike in one or some respects, they must also be alike in another, more important respect, without a valid connection.

False Dilemma/Either Or

A situation where only two choices are presented yet more exist, or a spectrum of possible choices exists between two extremes, typically characterized by "either this or that" language or omission of choices.

Fallacy of the Single Cause

A logical error where a person assumes a complex event has only one simple cause, when it actually results from multiple interacting factors.

False Cause Post hoc

Claiming that because event Y followed event X, event Y must have been caused by event X, without properly establishing causality.

Flawed Inversion

An attempt to reverse a statement, structure, or process that fails to maintain validity because a critical rule or constraint was ignored.

Hasty Generalization

Applying a broad conclusion to a group based on either a non-reflective or too small sample size.

Moral Equivalency

A fallacy that compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities, suggesting that both are equally immoral.

Red Herring

A diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them.

Slippery Slope

A fallacy where an initial, seemingly insignificant event is suggested to lead to a more significant event until, eventually, it leads to a large and dramatic ultimatum via improbable steps not backed by sound reasoning.

Straw man

Oversimplifying an opponent's viewpoint and then attacking that hollow argument.

Blasphemy

The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or to something sacred; something said or done that is disrespectful to God or to something sacred.

Calumny

A false, malicious statement or accusation deliberately made to damage a person's reputation.

Crucible

A severe test, trial, or difficult situation that forces people to change, grow, or make hard decisions under intense pressure.

Disembling

To hide your true feelings, opinions, motives, or the real facts behind a false appearance.

Hysteria

Unmanageable, exaggerated, or excess emotionality, often accompanied by physical symptoms that have no apparent medical cause.

Predilection

A strong liking, preference, or bias toward something, stemming from one's personal temperament or experience rather than a logical error.