Fallacies

Begging the question

A fallacy where the conclusion is assumed in the premises instead of being properly supported.

Contradiction

A flaw where a position contains two claims that cannot both be true at the same time.

False Analogy

A fallacy where two things are compared as if they are similar in a relevant way when they are not sufficiently alike.

Fallacy of Composition

A fallacy where it is assumed that what is true of the parts must also be true of the whole.

Straw Man

A fallacy where someone misrepresents an opponent’s argument in a weaker or simpler form in order to attack it more easily.

False Dilemma

A fallacy where only two options are presented when there are actually more possibilities.

Equivocation

A fallacy where a key word or phrase is used in different senses within the same argument.

Naturalistic Fallacy

A fallacy, associated with Moore, where “good” is wrongly defined in terms of a natural property such as pleasure, desire, or survival.

Appeal to Ignorance

A fallacy where something is claimed to be true because it has not been proven false, or false because it has not been proven true.