Philosophy

Slippery Slope

Claiming one step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences; a chain of adverse events

False Cause / Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Assuming causation just because one thing follows another; after this, therefore, because of this.

Gambler’s Fallacy

Believing past random events affect future probabilities.

Sunk Cost

Continuing something just because you’ve already invested in it; past investment not present value.

False dilemma (bifurcation)

Only two options given when more exist.

Line Drawing

Assuming there must be a clear line (e.g., “when exactly does a person become bald?”); assuming a distinction cannot be made because there is no clear line.

Perfectionist

Rejecting an idea because it isn’t perfect.

Normative/Descriptive Fallacy

Confusing 'what is' (descriptive) with 'what ought to be' (normative).

Weak Analogy

Comparing things that aren’t truly alike.

Genetic Fallacy

Judging something solely by its origin.

Ad hominem (personal attack)

Attacking the person, not the argument.

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Justifying wrongdoing because others do it.

Begging the Question / Circular Reasoning

Argument assumes what it’s trying to prove; conclusion assumed in the premises.

Hasty Generalization

Drawing a conclusion from too little evidence.

Accident

Misapplying a general rule to an exceptional case.

Division

Assuming what’s true of the whole is true of the parts; When one claims that the property of a whole applies equally to a part.

Composition

Assuming what’s true of parts is true of the whole; •When you claim that a property of a part (or parts) applies equally to the whole.

Appeal to Ignorance

Claiming something is true because it hasn’t been proven false; •Occurs when you try to establish the truth of a proposition by basing it on the lack of knowledge about something else.

•Misplaced burden of proof

Appeal to Tradition

Arguing something is right because it’s always been done.

Appeal to Force

Using threat or coercion instead of logic.

Appeal to Pity

Relying on sympathy instead of evidence.

Appeal to Authority

Treating authority as conclusive proof.

Mob Appeal

'Everyone’s doing it.'

Snob Appeal

'Only the elite/special do it.'

Normative

Concerned with what ought to be; how things should be.

Descriptive

Concerned with what is; how things actually are.

Positive Duty

Duty to help (e.g., assist someone in need); Duty of action.

Negative Duty

Duty to avoid harm (e.g., don’t steal); Duty of inaction.

Golden Mean

Virtue lies between two extremes (deficiency & excess).

Telos

Goal, purpose, or end of a thing.

Eudaimonia

Human flourishing, the ultimate good life.

Soundness

Argument is valid and has true premises.

Validity

If premises are true, conclusion must be true.

Philosophy

Love of wisdom.

Relativist (Subjectivist) Fallacy

Rejecting a claim by saying “that’s true for you, but not for me”.