Logical fallacy/argument

logical fallacy definition

a flaw in reasoning; tricks or illusions of thought, and they're often very sneakily used by politicians and the media to fool people

claim

the overall thesis or main idea a person will argue for

evidence

data or reasons gathered to support a claim

either/or definition

DEFINITION: Presenting two alternative states as the only possibilities, when in fact more possibilities exist.

either/or example

EXAMPLE: Whilst rallying support for his plan to fundamentally undermine citizens' rights, the Supreme Leader told the people they were either on his side, or they were on the side of the enemy.

bandwagon definition

DEFINITION: Appealing to popularity or the fact that many people do something as an attempted form of validation.

ad hominem example

EXAMPLE: After Sally presents an eloquent and compelling case for a more equitable taxation system, Sam asks the audience whether we should believe anything from a woman who isn't married, was once arrested, and smells a bit weird.

bandwagon example

Example: "You should not go to a college close to home because all of your friends are leaving the state to go to college."

slippery slope definition

DEFINITION: Saying that if we allow A to happen, then Z will eventually happen too, therefore A should not happen.

slippery slope example

Example: "If you do not do your homework tonight, you'll fail the semester, you'll have to drop out of the university, and you will eventually become homeless."

straw man example

Example: "Any politician who does not support the proposed state minimum wage increase hates the poor!"

appeal to false authority example

Example: "My dentist says that the government will shut down in the next 30 days, so we should take her claim seriously."

sentimental appeal example

EXAMPLE: Luke didn't want to eat his brussel sprouts, but his father told him to think about the poor, starving children in a third world country who weren't fortunate enough to have any food at all.

straw man definition

DEFINITION: By exaggerating, misrepresenting, or just completely fabricating someone else's argument, it's much easier to present your own position as being reasonable, but this kind of dishonesty serves to undermine honest rational debate.

straw man example

EXAMPLE: After Will said that we should put more money into health and education, Warren responded by saying that he was surprised that Will hates our country so much that he wants to leave it defenseless by cutting military spending.

either/or example

Example: "We can either win the war in Iraq or be attacked by terrorists again."

bandwagon example

Example: Everyone on campus is wearing Air Jordans. I need to buy those sneakers.

hasty generalization example

Example: My brother eats cheeseburgers and pizza. He is thin. Cheeseburgers and pizza aren't the cause of obesity.

straw man example

Example: Your brother says, "Cats are great," and you counter with, "Cats aren't better than dogs, because there are no seeing eye cats."

hasty generalization example

Example: I would never buy a Buick. My father owned two of them and both of them had frequent transmission problems. Buicks obviously break down all the time

either/or example

Example: Love America or leave it.

bandwagon example

Example: We now produce the best program in existence; four thousand businesses subscribe to our program.

faulty causality example

Example: "President Jones raised taxes, and then the rate of violent crime went up. Jones is responsible for the rise in crime."

sentimental appeal example

Example: "I know the exam is graded based on performance, but you should give me an A. My cat has been sick, my car broke down, and I've had a cold, so it was really hard for me to study!"

faulty causality example

Example: "Because I forgot to leave my porch light on, someone robbed my house."

either/or example

Example: "We can stop using cars or destroy the planet."

hasty generalization example

Example: "Professor P. is a hard grader because he gave me a 36 on a biology test."

slippery slope example

Example: "If marijuana is legalized, then everyone will become drug addicts."