Expanded_LSAT_Flaws_Flashcards

Question 1

Front

Answer 1

Back

Question 2

Circular Reasoning

Answer 2

An argument where the conclusion is restated as a premise.

Question 3

Ad Hominem

Answer 3

Attacking the person instead of the argument.

Question 4

Appeal to Inappropriate Authority

Answer 4

Citing an expert in a field outside their expertise.

Question 5

Sampling Flaw

Answer 5

Drawing a conclusion from a sample that is not representative.

Question 6

Comparison Flaw

Answer 6

Making a faulty comparison between two things.

Question 7

False Choice

Answer 7

Presenting only two options when more are available.

Question 8

Causation Flaw

Answer 8

Mistaking correlation for causation.

Question 9

Equivocation

Answer 9

Using a word in two different senses in an argument.

Question 10

Straw Man

Answer 10

Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.

Question 11

Hasty Generalization

Answer 11

Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

Question 12

Appeal to Emotion

Answer 12

Using emotions to persuade instead of logic.

Question 13

Slippery Slope

Answer 13

Assuming one event will lead to a series of negative events.

Question 14

Appeal to Tradition

Answer 14

Arguing something is true because it’s traditionally believed.

Question 15

Appeal to Popularity

Answer 15

Arguing something is true because many people believe it.

Question 16

False Analogy

Answer 16

Comparing two things that are not sufficiently similar.

Question 17

Red Herring

Answer 17

Introducing irrelevant information to distract from the argument.

Question 18

Post Hoc

Answer 18

Assuming that because one event followed another, it caused it.

Question 19

Loaded Question

Answer 19

Asking a question that contains an assumption.

Question 20

Appeal to Force

Answer 20

Using the threat of force to persuade someone to accept an argument.

Question 21

Composition Fallacy

Answer 21

Assuming what is true of the part is true of the whole.

Question 22

Division Fallacy

Answer 22

Assuming what is true of the whole is true of the part.

Question 23

False Dilemma

Answer 23

Presenting two choices as the only options when more exist.

Question 24

Begging the Question

Answer 24

Assuming the truth of the conclusion without evidence.

Question 25

Appeal to Ignorance

Answer 25

Claiming something is true because it has not been proven false.

Question 26

Appeal to Nature

Answer 26

Arguing that something is good because it is natural.

Question 27

False Cause

Answer 27

Assuming a cause-and-effect relationship without proof.

Question 28

Gambler’s Fallacy

Answer 28

Believing that past events affect the likelihood of future events.

Question 29

Tu Quoque

Answer 29

Arguing that someone cannot make an argument because they are hypocritical.

Question 30

Appeal to Pity

Answer 30

Using pity or guilt to persuade instead of logic.

Question 31

Appeal to Wealth

Answer 31

Arguing that something is true because it is expensive or valuable.

Question 32

Appeal to Fear

Answer 32

Using fear to persuade someone to accept an argument.

Question 33

Appeal to Consequences

Answer 33

Arguing that a belief is true or false based on its consequences.

Question 34

Argument from Silence

Answer 34

Assuming that silence or lack of evidence proves something.

Question 35

Complex Question

Answer 35

Asking a question that assumes a certain premise is true.

Question 36

Naturalistic Fallacy

Answer 36

Claiming that what is natural is inherently good or right.

Question 37

No True Scotsman

Answer 37

Dismissing counterexamples by redefining a group.

Question 38

Appeal to Novelty

Answer 38

Arguing something is better because it is new or modern.

Question 39

Moral Equivalence

Answer 39

Comparing minor actions to major wrongdoings to dismiss criticism.

Question 40

Cherry Picking

Answer 40

Only presenting evidence that supports your argument while ignoring contrary evidence.

Question 41

Appeal to Authority

Answer 41

Claiming something is true because an authority figure says so.

Question 42

False Attribution

Answer 42

Citing an irrelevant, false, or exaggerated source as evidence.

Question 43

Appeal to Extremes

Answer 43

Exaggerating an argument to an extreme to discredit it.

Question 44

Moving the Goalposts

Answer 44

Changing the criteria for proving an argument once the criteria has been met.

Question 45

Nirvana Fallacy

Answer 45

Rejecting a solution because it is not perfect.

Question 46

Misleading Vividness

Answer 46

Using a small number of dramatic events to discredit statistics.

Question 47

Definitional Retreat

Answer 47

Altering the meaning of a term after it has been challenged.

Question 48

Anachronistic Fallacy

Answer 48

Applying present-day ideas to evaluate past events.

Question 49

Appeal to Hypocrisy

Answer 49

Discrediting an argument by pointing out hypocrisy without addressing the argument.

Question 50

Appeal to Incredulity

Answer 50

Rejecting an argument because it seems implausible.

Question 51

False Precision

Answer 51

Using numbers or precision to give the appearance of certainty where none exists.

Question 52

False Attribution

Answer 52

Citing an irrelevant or inappropriate source to support an argument.