AP Lang Fallacies: Key Terms & Definitions for Philosophy

Hasty Generalization

Making assumptions about a whole group or range of cases based on a sample that is inadequate

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.

False Cause

Assuminb because B came after A, A caused B, or sth identified as the cause of an event but has not actually been shown to be the case

False Cause Example

Christians believe in God. Muslims believe in God. Therefore, Christians are Muslims.

Slippery Slope

Argument suggesting dire consequences from relatively minor causes, when a person asserts that some event must inevitably follow from another (in a sort of chain reaction) without any argument from the inevitability of the event in teh question

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.

False Analogy Example

Employees are like nails. Just as nails must be hit in the head in order to make them work, so must employees.

False Analogy

Analogy/metaphor used illustrates or elaborates, it doesn't prove anything. 2 things being compared aren't really alike in relevant respects

Appeal to authority

Adding strength to an argument by referring to respected sources/authorities and their recommendation, but just because someone is an expert on one thing, they aren't an expert on everything

Appeal to Authority Example

A commercial claims that a specific brand of cereal is the best way to start the day because athlete Michael Jordan says that it is what he eats every day for breakfast.

Appeal to pity

When an arguer tries to get people to accept a conclusion by making them feel sorry for someone

Appeal to Pity Example

I really deserve an "A" on this paper, professor. Not only did I study during my grandmother's funeral, but I also passed up the heart transplant surgery, even though that was the first matching donor in 3 years.

Appeal to Ignorance Example

No one can prove that the Loch Ness monster does not exist; therefore the Loch Ness monster exists.

Appeal to ignorance

A fallacy that uses an opponent's inability to disprove a conclusion as proof of the conclusion's correctness/arguer tries to use lack of evidence as support for a positive claim about sth

Straw Man

The arguer sets up a weak version of the opponent's position and tries to score points by knocking it down and/or oversimplifies the argument rather than respond to a specific argument

straw man example

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

False Dilemma

Arguer offers a limited number of options (usually two) when in fact more options are available.

False Dilemma Example

America: love it or leave it

Begging the Question

a circular argument in which the conclusion is included in the premise/arguer makes statement that assumes that the very question being argued is already answered, asks reader to simply accept conclusion without providing evidence

Begging the question example

Paranormal activity is real because I have experienced what can only be described as paranormal activity.