fallacies

Have you stopped beating your wife?

Complex Question

How long have you been cheating on your taxes?

Complex Question

He's obviously poor white trash, so what can we really expect from him?

Ad hominem

I, prince Nubadola, assure you that this is my message, and it is legitimate. You can trust this e-mail and any others that come from me.

circular reasoning

Well it's time for a decision. Will you contribute $20 to our environmental fund, or are you on the side of environmental destruction?

False Dilemma

We can't permit the sale of marijuana by doctor's prescriptions, because that will lead people to believe it's an acceptable drug; this will open the floodgate to the complete legalization of the drug for use by every pothead in the country.

Slippery Slope

The New England Patriots are the best football team because they're better than the other teams.

Circular Reasoning

After Will said that we should put more money into health and education, Warren responded by saying that he was surprised that Will hates our country so much that he wants to leave it defenceless by cutting military spending.

Straw Man

Mother: You should stop smoking. It's harmful to your health.

Daughter: Why should I listen to you? You started smoking when you were 16!"

Tu Quoque

Interviewer: "Your resume looks impressive but I need another reference."

Bill: "Jill can give me a good reference."

Interviewer: "Good. But how do I know that Jill is trustworthy?"

Bill: "Certainly. I can vouch for her.

Begging the Question/ circular reasoning

Although we have proven that the moon is not made of spare ribs, we have not proven that its core cannot be filled with them; therefore, the moon's core is filled with spare ribs.

Appeal to Ignorance

My political candidate gives 10% of his income to the needy, goes to church every Sunday, and volunteers one day a week at homeless shelter. Therefore, he is honest and morally straight.

Cherry Picking

People generally like to walk on the beach. Beaches have sand. Therefore, having sand floors in homes would be a great idea!

Non sequitur

Buddy Burger has the greatest food in town. Buddy Burger was voted #1 by the local paper. Therefore, Phil, the owner of Buddy Burger, should run for President of the United States.

Non sequitur

But now I know that the country faces only two choices: liberty or death.

Excluded Middle

You should not trust Peter with your children. I once saw him smack a child with his open hand.

(Peter hit the child in order to kill a poisonous spider.)

Half Truth

I'm a really good driver. In the past thirty years, I have gotten only four speeding tickets.

(all in the last 2 months)

Half Truth

When I got in the bath tub, the phone rang. Therefore getting in the bath will lead to the phone ringing.

Causality vs. Correlation; post hoc ergo propter hoc

Of course this mode of government is the best. We have had this government for over 200 years and no one has talked about changing it in all that time. So, it has got to be good.

Appeal to Tradition

Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman; therefore, gay marriage should not be allowed.

Appeal to Tradition

Eighty-four percent of people who die in this country die in a hospital room. If we'd just learn to stay out of hospitals, we'd live longer!

Misunderstanding Statistics

I read the other day that most people really like the new gun control laws. I was sort of suspicious of them, but I guess if most people like them, then they must be okay.

ad populum

Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I can't understand why he wants to leave us defenseless like that.

Straw Man

Proponents of sex education want to give kids license to have sex with no consequences.

Straw Man

Everyone knows that.

Omniscience

Believe what I say, or I will hit you.

Argument ad Baculum