Fallacies

Question 1

The Appeal to Emotion

Answer 1

When you use emotion as your evidence or motive without thinking critically.
“I dont want to accept x so x isnt true”

Question 2

Appeal to Pity

Answer 2

when you use pity or compassion as a substitute for good reasons
e.g. If you put murderer X to death think of what this would do to his family, Thus, you must not give him the death penalty
e.g. Criminal X has had a rough life, the parents were abusive drug addicts, You must excuse his behavior

Question 3

Appeal to Force

Answer 3

an appeal to violence and the threat of violence in place of reasons or an argument.
“You had better agree that the new company policy is the best if you expect to keep your job.”

Question 4

Appeal to Laughter

Answer 4

Using humor as a defense mechanism to move along the conversation

Question 5

ad hominem

Answer 5

Ad hominem (abusive): instead of attacking the assertion, the arguer attacks the person who made the assertion. Form: Your argument is wrong because you are [insert insult of choice ].
 Ad hominem (circumstantial): instead of attacking an assertion the author points to the relationship between the person making the assertion and the person’s circumstances. This is also sometimes called “Poisoning the Well” Form: Your argument is wrong because you related to or a member of some group.
 Ad hominem (tu quoque): this form of attack on the person notes that a person does not practice what he preaches.I.e. You do not practice what you preach, therefore you are wrong.

Question 6

Ad hominem (abusive)

Answer 6

You may argue that God exists (or doesn’t), but you are just a fat idiot.(ad hominem abusive

Question 7

Ad hominem (circumstantial)

Answer 7

We should discount what Steve Forbes says about cutting taxes because he stands to benefit from a lower tax rate.

Question 8

Ad hominem (tu quoque)

Answer 8

You say I should give up alcohol, but you haven’t been sober for more than a year yourself.

Question 9

Red Herring Fallacy

Answer 9

Distraction! It is committed when, in response to some question or argument, the speaker will introduce some irrelevancy to create the impression that he has provided a well‐justified argument or satisfactory response.

Question 10

Straw Man Fallacy

Answer 10

misinterpretating an opponents arguments,likely a weaker argument, then knocking it down andacting victorious

Question 11

Appeal to Authority

Answer 11

Appeal to the beliefs of a large group of people (e.g. an “appeal to the majority” or a culture, tradition, history, or society

Question 12

Qualitative form

Answer 12

Appeal to one or at most a few individuals or institutions
“Important person X believes Y therefore it must true”

ex:The car mechanic says that the cost to repair my brakes will be $1000.00, therefore I don’t need a second opinion