Logical Fallacies - Identify

Everyone I know is voting for John, so he's obviously the best choice for president.

Bandwagon

It can never happen to me. If I believed it could, I could never sleep soundly at night.

Appeal to Consequence

God must exist! If God did not exist, then all basis for morality would be lost and the world would be a horrible place!

Appeal to Consequence

My grandfather smoked, like, 30 cigarettes a day and lived to be 98 years old.

Anecdote

A friend of mine survived a car accident because she was not wearing one. She flew through the car's windscreen and landed on a grassy bank suffering only minor injuries while the car burst into flames.

Anecdote

Have you stopped beating your wife?

Loaded Question

How long have you been cheating on your taxes?

Loaded Question

He's obviously poor white trash, so what can we really expect from him?

Ad hominem

You can't make me believe there is no God.

Proving nonexistence

I don't think that's a ghost.

Oh yeah? You can't know that for sure!

Argument from ignorance

If there is no objective morality, then all bad people will get off without punishment in the afterlife. There has to be a right and wrong.

Appeal to consequence

I, prince Nubadola, assure you that this is my message, and it is legitimate. You can trust this e-mail and any others that come from me.

circular reasoning

I'm sure you can support the proposal to diversify into the fast food industry because if I receive any opposition on this initiative, I will personally see that you are transferred to the janitorial division of this corporation..

Argumentum ad Baculum

It is well recognized by most persons that the present technological revolution has affected the ethical basis of the nation's institution of education. Since this belief is so widely held, there can be little doubt of its accuracy.

Argumentum ad Populum

Well it's time for a decision. Will you contribute $20 to our environmental fund, or are you on the side of environmental destruction?

Black or White

We can't permit the sale of marijuana by doctor's prescriptions, because that will lead people to believe it's an acceptable drug; this will open the floodgate to the complete legalization of the drug for use by every pothead in the country.

Slippery Slope

Sally is in support of gun control. She seeks out news stories and opinion pieces that reaffirm the need for limitations on gun ownership. When she hears stories about shootings in the media, she interprets them in a way that supports her existing beliefs.

Confirmation Bias

Henry is adamantly opposed to gun control. He seeks out news sources that are aligned with his position, and when he comes across news stories about shootings, he interprets them in a way that supports his current point of view.

Confirmation Bias

The New England Patriots are the best football team because they're better than the other teams.

Circular Reasoning

Bill: "God must exist."

Jill: "How do you know."

Bill: "Because the Bible says so."

Jill: "Why should I believe the Bible?"

Bill: "Because the Bible was written by God."

Circular Reasoning

Four out of the five dentists that I asked recommend Happy Glossy Smiley toothpaste brand. Therefore, it must be great.

Small Numbers Statistics

After Will said that we should put more money into health and education, Warren responded by saying that he was surprised that Will hates our country so much that he wants to leave it defenceless by cutting military spending.

Straw Man

Mother: You should stop smoking. It's harmful to your health.

Daughter: Why should I listen to you? You started smoking when you were 16!"

Tu Quoque

Interviewer: "Your resume looks impressive but I need another reference."

Bill: "Jill can give me a good reference."

Interviewer: "Good. But how do I know that Jill is trustworthy?"

Bill: "Certainly. I can vouch for her.

Begging the Question/ circular reasoning

Although we have proven that the moon is not made of spare ribs, we have not proven that its core cannot be filled with them; therefore, the moon's core is filled with spare ribs.

Appeal to Ignorance

My political candidate gives 10% of his income to the needy, goes to church every Sunday, and volunteers one day a week at homeless shelter. Therefore, he is honest and morally straight.

Cherry Picking

People generally like to walk on the beach. Beaches have sand. Therefore, having sand floors in homes would be a great idea!

Non sequitur

Buddy Burger has the greatest food in town. Buddy Burger was voted #1 by the local paper. Therefore, Phil, the owner of Buddy Burger, should run for President of the United States.

Non sequitur

But now I know that the country faces only two choices: liberty or death.

Excluded Middle

You should not trust Peter with your children. I once saw him smack a child with his open hand.

(Peter hit the child in order to kill a poisonous spider.)

Half Truth

I'm a really good driver. In the past thirty years, I have gotten only four speeding tickets.

(all in the last 2 months)

Half Truth

When I got in the bath tub, the phone rang. Therefore getting in the bath will lead to the phone ringing.

Causality vs. Correlation; post hoc ergo propter hoc

Of course this mode of government is the best. We have had this government for over 200 years and no one has talked about changing it in all that time. So, it has got to be good.

Appeal to Tradition

Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman; therefore, gay marriage should not be allowed.

Appeal to Tradition

Eighty-four percent of people who die in this country die in a hospital room. If we'd just learn to stay out of hospitals, we'd live longer!

Misunderstanding Statistics

I read the other day that most people really like the new gun control laws. I was sort of suspicious of them, but I guess if most people like them, then they must be okay.

ad populum

Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I can't understand why he wants to leave us defenseless like that.

Straw Man

Proponents of sex education want to give kids license to have sex with no consequences.

Straw Man

Everyone knows that.

Omniscience

Believe what I say, or I will hit you.

Argument ad Baculum