Logical Fallacies

1. Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

one must be due to the other simply because it happened afterward - false

ex.) The Giants lost today because I forgot to wear my cap backward

2. Red Herring

a distraction or change in subject matter

ex.) Can you believe that so many people are concerned with global warming? The real threat to our country is terrorism

3. Sweeping Generalization

proposes a conclusion for all instances of the premise, even though there are most likely to be exceptions

ex.) The majority of the people in the US die in hospitals, so stay out of them

4. Hasty Generalization

A special case is used as the basis of a general rule.

ex.) Jim Bakker was an insincere Christian. Therefore all Christians are insincere.

5. Straw Man

You misrepresented someone’s argument to make it easier to attack

6. Begging the question/Circular Argument

The premise and conclusion are used to support each other in a never ending circle of x because y, and y because x

7. Euphemisms

Generalities; bland and inoffensive words

8. Ambiguity

A double meaning or ambiguity of language to mislead or misrepresent the truth

9. Faulty Analogy

Assuming that because two things are alike in one or more respects, they are necessarily alike in some other respect

False Dichotomy

Suggesting that there are only two alternatives, where in fact other alternatives exist or can exist

"ex.) A patient either gets better or they don’t

11. Loaded Question

A question that has a presumption built into it so that it couldn’t be answered without appearing guilty

12. Middle Ground

Claiming that a compromise, or middle point, between two extremes must be the truth

Halfway between truth and a lie, is still a lie

13. The Fallacy Fallacy

Presuming that because a claim has been poorly argued, or a Fallacy has been made, that the claim itself must be wrong

14. The Texas Sharpshooter

Cherry-picking a data cluster to suit your argument, or you found a pattern to fit a presumption

15. Genetic

Judging something as either good or bad on the basis of where in comes from, or from whom it came

16. Confirmation Bias

Where one only looks for evidence that confirms the beliefs that they want to hold

Seeking out sources that align with one’s position