FALLACIES

Fallacy of Equivocation

committed when several meanings of word or phrase become confused in the context of one argument.

Fallacy of Composition

from individual to all

Fallacy of Division

From all to individual

Fallacy of Appeal to Ignorance

“argumentum ad ignorantiam” something can be true if not proven false (vice-versa)

Fallacy of Appeal to Inappropriate Authority

Ex: “We should vote for this candidate for he is endorsed by our favorite basketball player”

Fallacy of Appeal to Pity

Ex: “This employee certainly deserves a promotion, for he can hardly feed his starving family”

Fallacy of Popular Will

“Ad Populum” or “Bandwagon” (ex: “we should drink this brand of beer, for it is the regular drink of successful men after a hard day's work.)

Fallacy of Appeal to Force

uses threats, intimidation, or emotional manipulation to persuade someone instead of offering a logical and relevant reason

Fallacy of Begging the Question

an attempt to prove something is true while simultaneously taking that same thing for granted. (ex: “it’s time to go to bed because it’s your bedtime)

Ad Hominem Fallacy

attacking the person presenting the argument instead of the argument itself

Fallacy of Accident

occurs when a general rule is incorrectly applied to a specific situation (ex: cutting people with knives is a crime. Surgeons cut people with knives. Surgeons are criminals.)

Fallacy of Hasty Generalization

committed when one makes a generalization from a special or accidental case

Fallacy of Complex Question

(ex: Have you stopped cheating on your exams?)

Red Herring

made to distract a person

Slippery Slope

small step will lead to a larger chain of events