Logical Fallacies Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining common logical fallacies covered in the Eli Brown lecture notes.

Fallacy

Defined as trickery or a false or mistaken idea; fallacies have the appearance of truth, but are erroneous.

Ad Hominem Argument

Attempting to criticize an idea by pointing out something about the person who holds the idea rather than the merit of the idea itself.

Argument from Authority (or False Authority)

Tempts us to agree with the writer's assumptions based on the authority of a famous person.

Appeal to ignorance

Based on the assumption that whatever hasn't been proven false must be true, or vice versa.

Begging the Question

Assumes that parts (or all) of what a person claims to be proving are proven facts (A is true because A is true).

Hasty Generalization

Led to a conclusion based on insufficient, selective evidence (e.g. Stereotypes).

Non Sequitur

An argument or statement that doesn't logically relate to what comes before it.

False dichotomy

Consideration is given to only the extremes when there are multiple possibilities in the middle.

Slippery Slope

Suggests dire consequences as a result of some relatively minor cause.

Faulty causality

Setting up of a cause-effect relationship when none really exists.

Straw Man Argument

Oversimplification of an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Sentimental appeals

Attempt to appeal to people's hearts so that they forget to use their minds.

Red herring

Attempt to shift attention away from an important issue by introducing an issue that has no logical connection to the discussion at hand.

Scare tactics

Used to frighten readers or listeners into agreeing with the speaker.

Bandwagon Appeals

An argument stating that if everyone is doing it, it must be all right.

Dogmatism

Does not allow for discussion because the speaker presumes that his or her beliefs are beyond question.

Equivocation

Telling part of the truth while deliberately hiding the entire truth.