Fallacies

Fallacy of Ambiguity

When an argument contains ambiguous words, sloppy grammar, or a confusion of conflation between two different concepts

example: the use of the word "bank" to refer both to a financial institution and the side of a river.

Equivocation

When a key term in an argument is used more than once and with different meanings

example: using "light" to mean both "not heavy" and "not dark."

example: 

Amphiboloy

When there is a grammatical error in an argument which allows more than one conclusion to be drawn.

Fallacy of Accent

when the meaning of an argument or statement changes based on which word or phrase in it emphasized

Fallacy of Division

A characteristic of an entire group is incorrectly assumed to be a characteristic of each member of that group

Fallacy of Composition

A characteristic of a member if a group is incorrectly assumed to be a characteristic of a whole group

Personal Attack (Ad Hominem)

instead of presenting a logical counter argument, one attacks the person who presented the argument

Appeal to Force

When we use or threaten to use force to get others to back down and accept your position

Appeal to Pity

when pity is invoked in an argument but it is not relevant to the conclusion

Popular Appeal 

One appeals to popular opinion to support their claim

Appeal to Ignorance

Arguing that something is true only because it has not been proven false

Hasty Generalization

When we make a universal claim based on a sample that is either too small or unrepresentative

Straw Man

When you distort or misrepresent your opponents argument to make it seem easier to refute

Red Herring

Sidetracking an argument by bringing up a different unrelated issue

Begging the Question

when one of the premises in the argument is a reworded version of the conclusion

Inappropriate Appeal to Authority

when you cite the view of an “Authority” to support your claim, but this person is not an authority on this topicor lacks relevant expertise.

Loaded Question

when you ask a question that assumes an answer to a different unasked question

False Dilemma

when the responses to a complex issue are reduced to a binary “either or” choice

Questionable Cause

When you assume without good reason that one thing is the cause of another

Slippery Slope

the incorrect assumption that if an action is taken or allowed, then eventually all actions of this type will be taken or allowed

Naturalistic Folly

The incorrect assumption that whatever is natural is good, and whatever is unnatural is bad