Logical Fallacies Study Guide

For McBride LA8 Accelerated. From: https://quizlet.com/793972978/logical-fallacies-study-guide-flash-cards/

Slippery Slope

A fallacy that assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented

Hasty Generalization

a fallacy in which a speaker jumps to a general conclusion on the basis of insufficient evidence

post hoc ergo propter hoc

"after this, therefore because of this;" assuming that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident

Genetic Fallacy

A conclusion is based on an argument that the origins of a person, idea, institute, or theory determine its character, nature, or worth.

Begging the Claim/Circular Argument

The conclusion that the writer should prove is validated within the claim.

either/or

oversimplifying an issue as offering only two choices

ad hominem

a fallacy that attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in disterm-7pute

ad populum

bandwagon appeal

Red Herring

When a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away from the real issue

Straw Man

A fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea.

Moral Equivalence

This fallacy compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities.

anecdotal

based on personal accounts rather than facts or research

cherry picking

Selectively present statistics supporting a point of view while ignoring competing data.

Avant-Garde/Being the First

This is a persuasive strategy where the audience is persuaded by being elite or cool to be the only one or the first one to do or have something.

Slippery Slope Example

If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers.

Hasty Generalization Example

I met some students from Fort Riley yesterday, who were very polite. I think all children from that area must be well-behaved.

post hoc ergo propter hoc example

I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick.

Ad Hominem Example

*Person A: I think that the US will come out of this recession quickly. *Person B: What do you know about economics? You don't even have a job!

Ad populum example

If you were a true American you would support the rights of people to choose whatever vehicle they want.

straw man example

People who don't support the proposed state minimum wage increase hate the poor.

Avant-Garde/Being the First example

Be the first to own the limited edition pp dingler from the new collection!

Genetic Fallacy Example

The Volkswagen Beetle is an evil car because it was originally designed by Hitler's army.

Begging the Claim/Circular Argument example

Filthy and polluting coal should be banned.

cherry picking example

This random statistic that ignores all other points of data will be the sole evidence I give in my essay.

Red Herring Example

The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families?

Moral Equivalence Example

That parking attendant who gave me a ticket is as bad as Hitler.

either or

You either choose papermate or you are a primate.

anecdotal example

Jason said that that was all cool and everything, but his grandfather smoked, like, 30 cigarettes a day and lived until 97