Logical Fallacy Examples

Formal Fallacy

All bullfights are grotesque rituals. All executions are grotesque rituals. Therefore, all bullfights ae executions.

Informal Fallacies

The Brooklyn Bridge is made of atoms. Atoms are invisible. Therefore, the Brooklyn Bridge is invisible.

Appeal to Force

Sesame Street is the best show on TV; and if you don’t believe it, I’m going to call my big brother over here and he’s going to beat you up.

Appeal to Pity

Your Honor, I admit that I declared thirteen children as dependents on my tax return, even though I have only two. But if you find me guilty of tax evasion, my reputation will be ruined. I’ll probably lose my job, my poor wife will not be able to have the operation that she desperately needs, and my kids will starve. Surely I am not guilty.

Appeal to the People

What Hitler used to gain support.

Appeal to Fear

The commercial during a presidential election that raised the fear of a candidate’s potential use of nuclear weapons in Vietnam if they were elected.

Bandwagon argument

Everyone nowadays is on a low-carb diet. Therefore, you should go on a low-carb diet, too.

Appeal to vanity

Of course you want to look as fresh and beautiful as Ellen DeGeneres. That means you will want to buy and use Cover Girl cosmetics.

Appeal to snobbery

The Lexus 400 series is not for everyone. Only those with considerable means and accomplishment will acquire one. To show the world that you are among the select few, you will want to purchase and drive one of these distinguished automobiles.

Appeal to tradition

Professional sporting events have been preceded by the national anthem for years. Therefore, professional sporting events should continue to be preceded by the national anthem.

Ad hominem abusive

Television entertainer Bill Maher argues that religion is just a lot of foolish nonsense. But Maher is an arrogant, shameless, self-righteous pig. Obviously his arguments are not worth listening to.

Ad hominem circumstantial

The Dalai Lama argues that China has no business in Tibet and that the West should do something about it. But the Dalai Lama just wants the Chinese to leave so he can return as leader. Naturally he argues this way. Therefore, we should reject his arguments.

Tu quoque

Kim Kardashian argues that women should not have children out of wedlock. But who is she to talk? She gave birth to her daughter North without being married. Clearly Kardashian’s argument is not worth listening to.

Accident

Freedom of speech is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Therefore, John Q. Radical should not be arrested for his speech that incited the riot last week.

Straw Man

Mr. Goldberg has argued against prayer in the public schools. Obviously Mr. Goldberg advocates atheism. But atheism is what they used to have in Russia. Atheism leads to the suppression of all religions and the replacement of God by an omnipotent state. Is that what we want for this country? I hardly think so. Clearly Mr. Goldberg’s argument is nonsense.

Missing the Point

Crimes of theft and robbery have been increasing at an alarming rate lately. The conclusion is obvious: We must reinstate the death penalty immediately.

Red Herring

There is a good deal of talk these days about the need to eliminate pesticides from our fruits and vegetables. But many of these foods are essential to our health. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, broccoli is rich in iron, and oranges and grapefruit have lots of vitamin C.

Appeal to Unqualified Authority

David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, has stated, “Jews are not good Americans. They have no understanding of what America is.” On the basis of Duke’s au thority, we must therefore conclude that the Jews in this country are un-American.

Appeal to Ignorance

People have been trying for centuries to provide conclusive evidence for the claims of astrology, and no one has ever succeeded. Therefore, we must conclude that astrology is a lot of nonsense.

Hasty Generalization

The mass shooting in a Colorado movie theater was carried out by a young, white male. The school shootings in Roseburg, Santa Barbara, and Newtown were all carried out by young, white males. The evidence is clear. Young, white males are a serious threat to public safety.

False Cause

There are more laws on the books today than ever before, and more crimes are being committed than ever before. Therefore, to reduce crime we must eliminate the laws.

Slippery Slope

Immediate steps should be taken to outlaw pornography once and for all. The continued manufacture and sale of pornographic material will almost certainly lead to an increase in sex-related crimes such as rape and incest. This in turn will gradually erode the moral fabric of society and result in an increase in crimes of all sorts. Eventually a complete disin tegration of law and order will occur, leading in the end to the total collapse of civilization.

Weak Analogy

Amber’s dog is similar in many ways to Kyle’s cat. Both like being petted, they enjoy being around people, they beg for food at the dinner table, and they sleep with their owners. Amber’s dog loves to romp on the beach with Amber. Therefore, Kyle’s cat probably loves to romp on the beach with Kyle.

Begging the Question

We know that humans are intended to eat lots of fruit because the human hand and arm are perfectly suited for picking fruit from a tree.

Complex Question

Where did you hide the marijuana you were smoking?

False Dichotomy

Either you let me attend the P!nk concert or I’ll be miserable for the rest of my life. I know you don’t want me to be miserable for the rest of my life, so it follows that you’ll let me attend the concert.

Suppressed Evidence

Most dogs are friendly and pose no threat to people who pet them. Therefore, it would be safe to pet the little dog that is approaching us now.

Equivocation

Some triangles are obtuse. Whatever is obtuse is ignorant. Therefore, some triangles are ignorant.

Amphiboly

The tour guide said that standing in Greenwich Village, the Empire State Building could easily be seen. It follows that the Empire State Building is in Greenwich Village.

Composition

Maria likes anchovies. She also likes chocolate ice cream. Therefore, it is certain that she would like a chocolate sundae topped with anchovies.

Division

Salt is a nonpoisonous compound. Therefore, its component elements, sodium and chlorine, are nonpoisonous.