Rhetorical Fallacy Definition

ad hominem

attack the person, not the argument

argument from authority

believe something is true based on association with someone or something who is not a true expert

appeal to ignorance

argue you conclusion because there is no evidence against it

hasty generalization

come to conclusion based on insufficient evidence

false dichotomy

presents only two options when there are actually more possibilities

faulty causality

mistake correlation with causation

slippery slope

suggest unrealistically dire consequences from a minor cause

straw man

simplify opponent argument in order to make it easier to attack

scare tactics

rely on unreasonable sense of fear or threat to persuade an audience

bandwagon

you should go along with something because everyone else is doing it

equivocation

lying by omission

fult analogy

suggest two things are very similar when they really are not

begging the question

conclusion is assumed in one of the premises, circular reasoning

non sequitur

conclusion does not follow from the premises, evidence or reason is irrelevant or adds very little support to the conclusion

sentimental appeals

emotion drives the argument in a misleading was, lacks tangible evidence

dogmatism

one’s opinion is beyond question and should not be attacked

red herring

avoids the key issue by pointing out other arguments rather than adressing the issu