Logical Fallacies

Ad hominem/tu quoque

Attacking someone for who they are, and not the argument

Ad hominem = “To the man”

• Your argument can't be right because you're no good.

Tu quoque = “You, too”

• Your argument can't be right because you're a hypocrite.

Red Herring

A distraction

If you want proof, I'll give you proof by...changing the subject.

Non-Sequitur

Non sequitur = not in sequence

• The conclusion does not seem to follow from the premises.

• ‘A’ is true; therefore, ‘C’

• Connect the dots with some missing explanation/facts.

Bandwagon/ad populum

Ad populum = “To the people”

• My opinion is more popular, so it’s correct

Appeal to Authority

I’m right because I have more authority than you.

• I am your parent; therefore, I’m right

• I am your boss; therefore I’m right

• I am the expert; therefore I’m right

Appeal to Tradition

This thing is right because it’s always been this way.

Slippery Slope

Slippery Slope = One misstep will lead to disastrous consequences

• If we let A happen, B will happen, the C will happen, and then D will happen... So let’s not do A.

Hypotheticals/Speculation

When the argument hinges on hypothetical future events.

“What if”

Post hoc/false cause

Post hoc ergo propter hoc = It happened after; therefore, it happened because

• Because something good or bad happened after something, that something caused the good or bad thing to happen.

Hasty Generalization

Hasty Generalization = Stereotyping

Some of that type are a certain way; therefore, in general, all of that type are that way.

Scapegoating

Blaming a single person or a single group for the issues or problems being faced.

False dichotomy/black and white

False Dichotomy = Falsely into two

• There are only two choices here; choose one.

Anecdotal Evidence

Anecdotes = Brief stories

• Using personal stories to prove a point rather than statistical evidence.

Guilt by Association

His argument can’t be right because he’s a member of _________.

That idea can’t be right because it’s affiliated with _________.

Equivocation

Misrepresenting the common meaning of words.

Manipulating the meaning of words to wriggle out of an argument.

Hyperbole

Misrepresenting an argument by exaggerating the claim or evidence.

Straw Man

Straw man = A weak or fragile representation of something else.

• An argument that sets up the opposing argument in a way that makes it easier to knock down.

• Putting words into the mouth of your opponent.

  • “So what he’s saying is…”

Circular Reasoning

Circular reasoning = A claim where the reasoning is the claim, itself.

• The A and the B in ABCDE are the same

  • You should believe this because it should be believed.

Deliberate Ignorance

I don’t believe your claims, and I don’t really want to hear your argument or evidence.

With this fallacy, an argument can’t take place.

Burden of Proof

Burden of proof: The person who makes the claim has the burden (responsibility) of proving that his/her point is correct.

Appeal to Ignorance: It’s natural to think a double-negative equals a positive, but in arguments, it doesn’t. Appeal to ignorance says that if you can’t prove something wrong, it’s right.