Logical Fallacies: Definitions and Examples for Critical Thinking

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Appeal to Authority

Using an authority's opinion as evidence when they are not an expert on the issue.

Appeal to Emotion

Manipulating emotions instead of using valid reasoning.

False Dilemma

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Slippery Slope

Arguing that one small step will lead to a chain of extreme events.

Circular Reasoning

Using the conclusion as a premise to support itself.

Hasty Generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.

Red Herring

Introducing irrelevant information to distract from the main issue.

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

Assuming that because one thing follows another, it was caused by it.

Bandwagon Fallacy

Assuming something is true or right because many people believe it.

False Cause

Confusing correlation with causation.

Appeal to Ignorance

Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false.

Begging the Question

Assuming what you're trying to prove as part of the argument.

Equivocation

Using a word with multiple meanings ambiguously.

False Analogy

Comparing two things that are not truly comparable.

Tu Quoque

Dismissing criticism by accusing the critic of hypocrisy.

No True Scotsman

Dismissing counterexamples by redefining terms to exclude them.

Appeal to Tradition

Claiming something is right because it's traditional or has always been done.

Appeal to Nature

Assuming something is good because it's natural.

Composition Fallacy

Assuming the whole has the same properties as its parts.

Division Fallacy

Assuming the parts have the same properties as the whole.

False Equivalence

Claiming two things are the same when they are not.

Gambler's Fallacy

Believing past random events affect future probabilities.

Moral Equivalence

Comparing minor misdeeds to major atrocities.

Middle Ground

Assuming the compromise between two positions must be correct.

Loaded Question

Asking a question that presupposes guilt or wrongdoing.

Appeal to Consequences

Arguing something is true or false based on its consequences.

Genetic Fallacy

Judging something as good or bad based on its origin.

Spotlight Fallacy

Assuming what's true for a visible subset is true for all cases.