Logical Fallacies and Manipulative Rhetoric Techniques

A set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing 21 rhetorical tricks and logical fallacies discussed in the lecture.

Ad hominem

Attacking a person’s character to undermine their argument, regardless of its validity.

Appeal to authority (Argumentum ad Verecundiam)

Using the endorsement of a celebrity or supposed expert who lacks relevant expertise as evidence.

Appeal to fear

Eliciting fear in the audience to gain agreement or compliance.

Appeal to pity (Appeal to sympathy)

Seeking agreement or absolution by arousing the audience’s sympathy instead of addressing the issue.

Appeal to popular passions (Argumentum ad Populum)

Claiming to share the same views as the audience or invoking popular opinion to win support.

Begging the question (Petitio Principii)

Assuming the truth of the conclusion within the premise; circular reasoning.

Disinformation

Spreading rumors or false information to discredit a person or position.

False dilemma (Either/Or)

Presenting only two extreme options when more exist.

False analogy

Making a misleading comparison to suggest two things are alike in relevant ways when they are not.

Faulty statistics

Manipulating numbers or citing dubious studies to create a false impression of validity.

Hasty generalization

Drawing a broad conclusion from too little evidence or a single example.

Ignoring the evidence (Apiorism)

Disregarding inconvenient facts because they may create extra work or complicate matters.

Loaded label or definition

Using emotionally charged or biased wording to sway perception (e.g., calling the estate tax the “death tax”).

Non sequitur

A conclusion that does not logically follow from the premises or is supported by irrelevant premises.

Poisoning the well

Discrediting an opponent or viewpoint in advance to prejudice the audience.

Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

Mistaking a sequential relationship for a causal one (“after this, therefore because of this”).

Red herring

Introducing an emotionally charged but irrelevant issue to divert attention from the real topic.

Shifting the burden of proof

Forcing the opponent to prove your claim false instead of proving it true yourself.

Slippery slope

Arguing that a small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of disastrous events.

Spin

Strategically presenting information to cast one’s own side positively and opponents negatively.

Straw man

Misrepresenting an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack or refute.