Logical Fallacies Vocab

Non Sequitur

Literally ‘does not follow’: an inference that does not follow from the premise of an argument; a fallacy

False Analogy

When the situations or circumstances being compared are not similar enough.

False Cause

When a speaker argues, with insufficient evidence, that one thing caused or causes another

False Authority

When the person making an argument doesn’t actually have the qualifications to be credible but is perceived as credible because they are respected or admired.

Bandwagon

When the course of the many is dictated as necessarily being correct just because people are engaged in the activity

False Dilemma

An oversimplification that offers a limited number of options (usually two) when in reality more options are available.

Ad Hominem

Literally ‘to the man’ An argument based on the perceived failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case

Red Herring

an argument that distracts from the discussion at hand

Appeal to Tradition

argues that something should continue because “it’s the way things have been done before.”

Appeal to Ignorance

The assumption that a statement must be true if it cannot be proved false.

Appeal to Emotion

When an argument tries to draw an emotional response rather than a logical one

Equivocation Fallacy

When an argument purposefully uses words that can have multiple meanings

Fallacy of Composition

The assumption that because parts of a whole are either good or bad, this makes the whole good or bad

Slippery Slop

When a person argues that one action will inevitably lead to a series of other action

Begging the Question

A fallacy in which the premise of an argument presupposed the truth of its conclusion; in other words, the argument takes for granted what it is supposed to prove

Straw Man Fallacy

A fallacy in which an opponent’s argument is overstated or misrepresented in order to be more easily attacked or refuted