Logical Fallacies

Ad Hominem

attacking a person’s character instead of substance

Appeal to authority

believing something is true because a person is an unqualified authority

appeal to emotions

use emotions rather than logic

appeal to the masses

peer pressure (bandwagoning)

false cause

connecting two events that aren’t related - assuming one event causes another

false choice/false dilemma

oversimplifies a complex issue by only showing two options

false equivalence

saying two things are the same when they are not

red herring

bring outside information/change subject - used to distract

single cause

oversimplifies complex issue to a single cause

slippery slope

action will lead to negative and unlikely outcomes

strawman

misrepresent opponents argument to attack it - over exaggerate

hasty generalization

generalize people or objects due to a small sample

circular reasoning

only have one point - circle back to the same reason - evidence = claim

ad hominem:

"You can't trust John's opinion on climate change because he's just a teacher."

appeal to authority:

"We should believe the new diet works because a Taylor Swift endorses it."

Appeal to emotions:

"Don't let your child suffer, donate to the Fight Against Kid Hunger today!"

Appeal to the masses:

Everyone is buying this phone, so it must be the best choice for you too!

False Cause:

I wore my lucky socks, and then it rained, so my socks must have caused the rain.

False Choice/False Dilemma:

You're either with us or against us.

False Equivalence -

A teacher’s workload is the same as a soldier who is deployed at war

red herring -

In a debate about climate change, a politician starts talking about job creation instead of addressing environmental issues."

single cause -

Climate change is solely caused by human activities

Slippery Slope -

"If we allow students to retake tests, pretty soon, they’ll expect unlimited retries on everything, and then no one will study at all!"

strawman -

Someone argues for more spending on education, and the opponent says, 'My opponent wants to throw money at schools without any accountability!'

hasty generalization -

I met two people from that city, and they were both rude; therefore, everyone from that city must be rude."

circular reasoning -

"We know that the law is just because it is the law.