AP Lang Logical Fallacy

Ad hominem

Definition: attack on person rather than their claim.

Example: Person A makes claim X, Person B attacks Person A; therefore, A’s claim is false.

Ad populum

Definition: argument that appeals to the popularity of the claim as a reason to accept it.

Example: Person A makes a claim, Person A is liked, so Person A is right.

Begging the Question

Definition: argument that assumes the premise of the claim is true (form of circular reasoning).

Example: Claim Z assumes that Z is true, therefore claim Z is true.

Circular Reasoning

Definition: Argument that restates the argument or claim rather than proving it.

Example: Claim A is true because of claim B, claim B is true since A is true.

False Analogy

Definition: Argument based on a misleading comparison “Apples and Oranges”.

Example: Item A & Item B are similar, Item A likes Z; therefore, Item B should like Z.

Hasty Generalizations

Definition: Conclusion or claim based off insufficient evidence.

Example: Z is true for A, B, and C; therefore, Z should be true for everyone.

Non-Sequitur

Definition: Occurs when a conclusion doesn’t follow the premises.

Example: Person A makes claim 1, Person A provides support for claim 1; therefore, claim 2 must be true

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Definition: Occurs when it is assumed that one thing caused another when the two events happen sequentially ( causation v. correlation).

Example: Event A happens; then, event B happens; therefore, event A must have caused event B

Red Herring

Definition: Diversion tactic that leads people away from the key or real issues (distraction).

Example: Issue Y is being discussed; issue Z is disguised to look relevant to Y; issue Y is ignored/abandoned.

Slippery Slope

Definition: Occurs when a person argues that an event will inevitably happen without providing any examples that this will happen (escalation).

Example: Event A happens (or may happen); therefore, event Z will inevitably happen.

Straw Man

Definition: Happens when someone oversimplifies or misrepresents another person’s argument in order to make it easier to attack (cherry picking).

Example: Person 1 believes A; Person 2 says B (which is a misrepresented version of A); Person 2 attacks B; therefore, A is wrong.