Common Logical Fallacies and Their Definitions

Pse dixit

is an illegitimate appeal to authority

Ad populum

this fallacy means an appeal to the masses

As baculum

appeal 'to the stick' an illegitimate appeal to force. A thinly veiled-threat

Ad hominem

verbally attacking a person instead of his argument

Genetic fallacy

dismissing an argument by simply pointing out why the one presenting the argument came to believe it

Tu Quoque

pointing out an inconsistency between what his opponent says and what his opponent does

Ad ignorantiam

appeal to lack of information

Chronological snobbery

rejection a position solely basis of how old it is

Equivocation

when words are used in an argument with more than one definition

Accent

alters the meaning of a statement through changed emphasis

Amphibioly

is a vagueness of grammar that disguises or alters meaning

Composition

is the fallacy of transferring attributes from part or whole

Division

is the fallacy of transferring attributes from whole to part

Circular reasoning

is really assuming what you are trying to assume

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

is improperly assuming that a sequence in time implies a cause and effect

Either/or

is making an argument based on a false dilemma

Complex question

is a question crafted to exclude any possible legitimate response