AP Lang flashcards #9

logical fallacies

Tu Quoque

A type of ad hominem argument that attempts to discredit an opponent's argument by pointing out their hypocrisy rather than addressing the substance of their claim.

Burden of Proof Fallacy

When a person makes a claim and, instead of providing evidence, demands that their opponent disprove it.

Begging the Question

Where an argument's premises assume the truth of the conclusion instead of proving it. Instead of providing evidence, it essentially says the conclusion is true because the conclusion is true.

Middle Ground Fallacy

The informal error of assuming that a compromise between two opposing positions must be the correct or best solution, simply because it is a middle ground. 

This fallacy ignores that a compromise can be false or incorrect, or that one of the original extreme positions might be true.

Just World Hypothesis

The belief that people get what they deserve, meaning good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people, leading to the rationalization of misfortune by blaming the victim.

Law of Unintended Consequences

The principle that actions, especially those of a simple system attempting to regulate a complex one, often have unforeseen and sometimes counterproductive outcomes.

A Priori Argument Fallacy

A type of flawed reasoning where a conclusion is based on prior assumptions or beliefs rather than evidence

Alphabet Soup Fallacy

The deliberate and excessive use of jargon, acronyms, and technical language to confuse an audience or to make yourself sound more knowledgeable and credible.

Appeal to Nature / Green Fallacy

The logical error of assuming something is good or right because it is natural. Or assuming something is bad and wrong because it is unnatural. 

This fallacy is often seen in arguments about food, medicine, and morality.

Appeal to Pity

Someone tries to win an argument by evoking feelings of sympathy, guilt, or pity, instead of using facts or reason. This tactic is considered a fallacy because the emotions of the audience are irrelevant to the validity of the argument itself.

Gambler’s Fallacy

The mistaken belief that past random events influence future independent events.

Identity Fallacy

A logical error that occurs when an argument is judged based on the speaker's social or personal identity rather than the strength of the argument itself.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

the tendency to continue an endeavor because of previous investments in it, even when abandoning it would be the more beneficial choice. 

This happens because people are reluctant to "waste" the resources (money, time, or effort) they have already spent, leading them to make decisions based on past costs rather than future benefits

Slippery Slope

Argues a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related, negative events, culminating in a disastrous outcome, without providing evidence for this chain reaction.

False Dilemma

Presenting only two options as the only possibilities when more options actually exist. 

It is used to oversimplify complex issues, often to manipulate an audience.