Expanded_LSAT_Flaws_Flashcards
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Circular Reasoning
An argument where the conclusion is restated as a premise.
Ad Hominem
Attacking the person instead of the argument.
Appeal to Inappropriate Authority
Citing an expert in a field outside their expertise.
Sampling Flaw
Drawing a conclusion from a sample that is not representative.
Comparison Flaw
Making a faulty comparison between two things.
False Choice
Presenting only two options when more are available.
Causation Flaw
Mistaking correlation for causation.
Equivocation
Using a word in two different senses in an argument.
Straw Man
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
Hasty Generalization
Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.
Appeal to Emotion
Using emotions to persuade instead of logic.
Slippery Slope
Assuming one event will lead to a series of negative events.
Appeal to Tradition
Arguing something is true because it’s traditionally believed.
Appeal to Popularity
Arguing something is true because many people believe it.
False Analogy
Comparing two things that are not sufficiently similar.
Red Herring
Introducing irrelevant information to distract from the argument.
Post Hoc
Assuming that because one event followed another, it caused it.
Loaded Question
Asking a question that contains an assumption.
Appeal to Force
Using the threat of force to persuade someone to accept an argument.
Composition Fallacy
Assuming what is true of the part is true of the whole.
Division Fallacy
Assuming what is true of the whole is true of the part.
False Dilemma
Presenting two choices as the only options when more exist.
Begging the Question
Assuming the truth of the conclusion without evidence.
Appeal to Ignorance
Claiming something is true because it has not been proven false.
Appeal to Nature
Arguing that something is good because it is natural.
False Cause
Assuming a cause-and-effect relationship without proof.
Gambler’s Fallacy
Believing that past events affect the likelihood of future events.
Tu Quoque
Arguing that someone cannot make an argument because they are hypocritical.
Appeal to Pity
Using pity or guilt to persuade instead of logic.
Appeal to Wealth
Arguing that something is true because it is expensive or valuable.
Appeal to Fear
Using fear to persuade someone to accept an argument.
Appeal to Consequences
Arguing that a belief is true or false based on its consequences.
Argument from Silence
Assuming that silence or lack of evidence proves something.
Complex Question
Asking a question that assumes a certain premise is true.
Naturalistic Fallacy
Claiming that what is natural is inherently good or right.
No True Scotsman
Dismissing counterexamples by redefining a group.
Appeal to Novelty
Arguing something is better because it is new or modern.
Moral Equivalence
Comparing minor actions to major wrongdoings to dismiss criticism.
Cherry Picking
Only presenting evidence that supports your argument while ignoring contrary evidence.
Appeal to Authority
Claiming something is true because an authority figure says so.
False Attribution
Citing an irrelevant, false, or exaggerated source as evidence.
Appeal to Extremes
Exaggerating an argument to an extreme to discredit it.
Moving the Goalposts
Changing the criteria for proving an argument once the criteria has been met.
Nirvana Fallacy
Rejecting a solution because it is not perfect.
Misleading Vividness
Using a small number of dramatic events to discredit statistics.
Definitional Retreat
Altering the meaning of a term after it has been challenged.
Anachronistic Fallacy
Applying present-day ideas to evaluate past events.
Appeal to Hypocrisy
Discrediting an argument by pointing out hypocrisy without addressing the argument.
Appeal to Incredulity
Rejecting an argument because it seems implausible.
False Precision
Using numbers or precision to give the appearance of certainty where none exists.
False Attribution
Citing an irrelevant or inappropriate source to support an argument.
