List of Logical Fallacies

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person instead of addressing the argument.

Example: “You can’t trust John’s opinion on climate change—he failed high school science.”

Appeal to Authority (Argumentum ad Verecundiam)

Using an authority figure as evidence when they are not an expert on the topic.

Example: “Tom Hanks says this supplement works, so it must be effective.”

Appeal to Emotion

Manipulating emotions to win an argument, rather than using logic.

Example: “If you don’t adopt this puppy, it will be sad and lonely forever.”

Appeal to Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam)

Asserting something is true because it hasn’t been proven false (or vice versa).

Example: “No one has proven aliens don’t exist, so they must be real.”

Appeal to Popularity (Ad Populum/Bandwagon)

Arguing something is true or good because it's popular.

Example: “Everyone is using this app, so it must be the best one.”

Appeal to Tradition

Arguing something is right because it’s always been done that way.

Example: “We’ve always had boys play football and girls do cheerleading.”

Appeal to Force (Ad Baculum)

Using threats instead of logic to win an argument.

Example: “If you don’t agree, you’ll lose your job.”

Red Herring

Introducing irrelevant information to divert attention from the real issue.

Example: “Why worry about climate change when people are unemployed?”

Straw Man

Misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.

Example:

A: “We should have some regulations on guns.”

B: “So you want to take away everyone’s guns?”