15 common types of locial fallacies

study guide

Ad Hominem

Is one that attempts to invalidate an opponents position based on a personal trait or fact about the opponent rather than logic

Red herring

An attempt to shift focus from the debate at hand by introducing an irrelevant point.

Straw man

Is one that argues against a hyperbolic, inaccurate version of an opposition rather than an actual argument. (confuse)

Slippery slope

The arguer claims a specific series of events that follow one starting point typically with no supporting evidence for this chain of events.

Hasty generalization

is made after considering just one or few examples rather than relying on more extensive research to back up the claim. Important to keep in mind what constitutes sufficient research depending on the issue at hand and the statement being made up about it.

Appeal to authority

claims an authority figures expertise to support a claim despite an expertise being irreverent or overstated

False dilemma

Claims there are only two options in a given situation. Often the two options are extreme opposites of eachother.

Bandwagon fallacy

claims something is right to do or correct because its popular

Appeal to ignorance

is a claim something must be true because it has not been proven false. I can be a claim that something must be false because it hasent been proven true.

Circular argument

Is one that uses the same statement as both the premise and the conclusion. No new information or justification is introduced.

Sunk cost fallacy

Justifies their decision to continue a specific coarse of action by the amount of money they have already spent on it.

Appeal to pity

Attempts to sway readers or listeners opinions by provoking them emotionally.

Causal fallacy

One implies a relationship between two things where one cant actually be proven

Appeal to hypocrisy

is a rebuttal that responds to one claim with reactive criticism rather than a response to the claim itself.

Logical fallacy

an error in reasoning that weakens an argument and makes its logic invalid or deceptive