fallacy terms

Argumentative Fallacies

A failure in reasoning which renders an argument invalid

Argumentum Ad Hominem

to the man; in this diversionary tactic, you attack the person not the argument

Bad Faith Argument

arguments that the person using them know are fallacious or that they really don’t believe in themselves

Argumentum Tu Quoque

appeal to hypocrisy or inconsistency. Also known as “whataboutism”. Usually used in tandem with the Ad Hominem.

Argumentum Ad Metum

appeal to fear, rather than debate the logic of a proposal, ad metum just requires that you make it sound scary.

Argumentum Ad Misericordiam

appeal to pity (or mercy). A diversionary tactic that seeks to invoke a feeling of pity for someone, or towards something, rather than attempting to dispute the argument in question.

Argumentum Ad Antiquatem

appeal to tradition. A fallacy that twists the argument into one about the importance of upholding traditions.

Argumentum Ad Poplum

an appeal to the people or the populace. This strategy attempts to place public opinion on par with objective facts and logic.

Post Hoc, Ergo propter Hoc

“after this, therefore causing this.” A timeline or sequence fallacy that erroneously suggests that something that came before caused the thing that comes after.

Non-sequitur

“it does not follow.” Another fallacy of sequence where the second phrase or idea does not logically follow from the first.

Slippery Slope

this fallacy suggests that a first step in one direction will inevitably lead to an often ridiculous worst-case scenario

Strawman

a tactic where an opponents argument is simplified or distorted to the point of ridiculousness so that it can be easily defeated.