AP Lang: Logical Fallacies

logical fallacies

potential weaknesses in an argument

Red Herring

switching the topic in order to avoid discussion of the original topic.

Ex: We can argue about my test grades all night, but what we really need to talk about is my new car.

Straw Man

exaggerates argument into something it isn’t.

Ex: Speaker 1 - You really shouldn’t have this opinion.

Speaker 2 - Oh, no one is allowed to have opinions anymore!

Post hoc ergo proper hac (PHEPH)

improper correlation

Ex: We decided to elect him as President and look where it got us: floods, hurricanes, and stock market crashes.

Ad Hominem

switching the argument to the character of the other speaker.

Ex: We can not support him wanted to renovate the park, he was arrested for a DUI three years ago.

Faulty Analogy

comparing two things that are not comparable.

Ex: We put animals who are in irreversible pain out of their misery, so we should do the same for people.

False dilemma (either/or)

two extreme options as the only choices possible.

Ex: Either we agree to higher taxes, or our grandchildren will be mired.

Hasty Generalization

not enough evidence to support the speaker’s conclusion.

Ex: Smoking isn’t bad for you; my great aunt has smoke all her life and she is 90.

Circular reasoning

the claim is used as the evidence, resulting in no evidence.

Ex: You can not give me a C, I am an A student.

Appeal to False Authority

cites person who is not qualified as an expert.

Ex: A basketball player in a jewelry commercial.

Ad populum (bandwagon appeal)

basis of evidence on what is popular.

Ex: You should vote to elect Rachel, she has a strong lead in the polls.