Fallacies Flashcards
Paralogisme
un raisonnement faux
qui apparaît comme valide,
notamment à son auteur1,
lequel est de bonne foi
un raisonnement faux qui apparaît comme valide, notamment à son auteur1, lequel est de bonne foi
Paralogisme
Sophisme
argument fallacieux
qui apparaît comme valide
mais destiné à tromper
argumentfallacieuxqui apparaît comme valider mais destiné à tromper
Sophisme
Ad hominem
attempt to invalidate an opponent’s position based on a personal trait or fact about the opponent rather than through logic.
attempt to invalidate an opponent’s position based on a personal trait or fact about the opponent rather than through logic.
Ad hominem
Katherine is a bad choice for mayor because she didn’t grow up in this town.
Ad hominem
Red herring
attempt to shift focus from the debate at hand by introducing an irrelevant point.
attempt to shift focus from the debate at hand by introducing an irrelevant point.
Red herring
Losing a tooth can be scary, but have you heard about the Tooth Fairy?
Red herring
Straw man
argumentthat argues against a hyperbolic, inaccurate version of the opposition rather than their actual argument.
argumentthat argues against a hyperbolic, inaccurate version of the opposition rather than their actual argument.
Straw man
Erin thinks we need to stop using all plastics, right now, to save the planet from climate change.
Straw man
Equivocation
statement crafted to mislead or confuse readers or listeners by using multiple meanings or interpretations of a word or simply through unclear phrasing.
statement crafted to mislead or confuse readers or listeners by using multiple meanings or interpretations of a word or simply through unclear phrasing.
Equivocation
While I have a clear plan for the campus budget that accounts for every dollar spent, my opponent simply wants to throw money at special interest projects.
Equivocation
Slippery slope
the arguer claims a specific series of events will follow one starting point, typically with no supporting evidence for this chain of events.
the arguer claims a specific series of events will follow one starting point, typically with no supporting evidence for this chain of events.
Slippery slope
If we make an exception for Bijal’s service dog, then other people will want to bring their dogs. Then everybody will bring their dog, and before you know it, our restaurant will be overrun with dogs, their slobber, their hair, and all the noise they make, and nobody will want to eat here anymore.
Slippery slope
Hasty generalization
statement made after considering just one or a few examples rather than relying on more extensive research to back up the claim. It’s important to keep in mind that what constitutes sufficient research depends on the issue at hand and the statement being made about it.
statement made after considering just one or a few examples rather than relying on more extensive research to back up the claim.
(It’s important to keep in mind that what constitutes sufficient research depends on the issue at hand and the statement being made about it.)
Hasty generalization
I felt nauseated both times I ate pizza from Georgio’s, so I must be allergic to something in pizza.
Hasty generalization
Appeal to authority
the arguer claims an authority figure’s expertise to support a claim despite this expertise being irrelevant or overstated.
the arguer claims an authority figure’s expertise to support a claim despite this expertise being irrelevant or overstated.
Appeal to authority
If you want to be healthy, you need to stop drinking coffee. I read it on a fitness blog.
Appeal to authority
False dilemma or false dichotomy
claim that there are only two options in a given situation. Often, these two options are extreme opposites of each other, failing to acknowledge that other, more reasonable, options exist.
claim that there are only two options in a given situation. Often, these two options are extreme opposites of each other, failing to acknowledge that other, more reasonable, options exist.
False dilemma or false dichotomy
If you don’t support my decision, you were never really my friend.
False dilemma or false dichotomy
Bandwagon fallacy
the arguer claims that a certain action is the right thing to do because it’s popular.
the arguer claims that a certain action is the right thing to do because it’s popular.
Bandwagon fallacy
Of course it’s fine to wait until the last minute to write your paper. Everybody does it!
Bandwagon fallacy
Appeal to ignorance
claim that something must be true because it hasn’t been proven false.
claim that something must be false because it hasn’t been proven true.
This is also known as the burden of proof fallacy.
claim that something must be true because it hasn’t been proven false.
claim that something must be false because it hasn’t been proven true.
This is also known as the burden of proof fallacy.
Appeal to ignorance
There must be fairies living in our attic because nobody’s ever proven that there aren’t fairies living in our attic.
Appeal to ignorance
Circular argument
argument that uses the same statement as both the premise and the conclusion. No new information or justification is introduced.
argument that uses the same statement as both the premise and the conclusion. No new information or justification is introduced.
Circular argument
Peppers are the easiest vegetable to grow because I think peppers are the easiest vegetable to grow.
Circular argument
Sunk cost fallacy
the arguer justifies their decision to continue a specific course of action by the amount of time or money they’ve already spent on it.
the arguer justifies their decision to continue a specific course of action by the amount of time or money they’ve already spent on it.
Sunk cost fallacy
I’m not enjoying this book, but I bought it, so I have to finish reading it.
Sunk cost fallacy
Appeal to pity
attempt to sway a reader’s or listener’s opinion by provoking them emotionally.
attempt to sway a reader’s or listener’s opinion by provoking them emotionally.
Appeal to pity
I know I should have been on time for the interview, but I woke up late and felt really bad about it, then the stress of being late made it hard to concentrate on driving here.
Appeal to pity
Causal fallacy
fallacy that implies a relationship between two things where one can’t actually be proven.
fallacy that implies a relationship between two things where one can’t actually be proven.
Causal fallacy
When ice cream sales are up, so are shark attacks. Therefore, buying ice cream increases your risk of being bitten by a shark.
Causal fallacy
Appeal to hypocrisy
a rebuttal that responds to one claim with reactive criticism rather than with a response to the claim itself.
a rebuttal that responds to one claim with reactive criticism rather than with a response to the claim itself.
Appeal to hypocrisy
“You don’t have enough experience to be the new leader.” “Neither do you!”
Appeal to hypocrisy
