Logical Fallacies B

The Gambler’s Fallacy

Believing that 'runs' occur to statistically independent phenomena such as roulette wheel spins.

Bandwagon

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

Appeal to Authority

Saying that because an authority thinks something, it must therefore be true.

Composition/Division

Assuming that what's true about one part of something has to be applied to all, or other, parts of it.

No True Scotsman

Making what could be called an appeal to purity as a way to dismiss relevant criticisms or flaws of an argument.

Genetic

Judging something good or bad on the basis of where it comes from, or from whom it comes.

Black or White

Where two alternative states are presented as the only possibilities, when in fact more possibilities exist.

Begging the Question

A circular argument in which the conclusion is included in the premise.

Appeal to Nature

Making the argument that because something is 'natural' it is therefore valid, justified, inevitable, good, or ideal.

Anecdotal

Using personal experience or an isolated example instead of a valid argument, especially to dismiss statistics.

The Texas Sharpshooter

Cherry-picking data clusters to suit an argument, or finding a pattern to fit a presumption.

Middle Ground

Saying that a compromise, or middle point, between two extremes is the truth.