Fallacies

Question 1

Types of fallacies

Answer 1

1. Ad Hominem
2. Straw Man
3. Appeal to ignoramce
4. False dilemma
5. Slippery slop
6. Circular argument
7. Hasty generalization
8. Red Herring
9. Tu Quoque fallacy
10. Causal fallacy
11. Fallacy if sunk costs
12. Appeal to authority
13. Equivocation
14. Appeal to pity
15. Bandwagon fallacy

Question 2

Ad Hominem

Answer 2

Against the man
Or
Someone rejects or criticizes another person’s view on the basis of their personal characteristics, background, physical appearance etc.

Question 3

Straw Man

Answer 3

Someone attacks a position the opponent doesn’t really hold

(President Trump doesn’t have middle class Americans in mind. He’s part of the upper echelon of America)

Question 4

Appeal to Ignorance

Answer 4

Someone asserts a claim that must be accepted because no one else can prove otherwise

(People have been praying to God for years. No one can prove she/he doesn’t exist. Therefore s/he exists)

Question 5

False dilemma/ False dichotomy

Answer 5

Reasoning fails by limiting the options to two when there are more options to choose from

Question 6

Slippery Slope

Answer 6

Moving from a seemingly benign premise or starting point and working through a number of small steps to an improbable extreme

(If we teach Paul how to drive the car, he’ll want to pearn how to fly helicopter next)

Question 7

Circular argument

Answer 7

When a person’s argument is just repeating what they already assumed, not arriving at any conclusion

(According to my thoughts, my brain is reliable)

Question 8

Hasty generalization

Answer 8

General statements without sufficient evidence to support them

(Some teenagers in our community vandalized the park. Teenagers are so irresponsible and destructive)

Question 9

Red Herring

Answer 9

A distraction from the argument typically with some sentiment that seems to be relevant but isn’t really on topic

(There are starving children in Africa. Eat your food)

Question 10

Tu Quoque Fallacy

Answer 10

Focusing on the other person’s hypocrisy is a diversionary tactic

(Dad I know you smoked when you were my age, so how can you tell me not to do it?)

Question 11

Causal fallacy

Answer 11

Conclude about a cause without enough evidence to do so

(You used the telephone and then it stopped working. You broke the phone)

Question 12

Sunk Costs

Answer 12

Reluctant to abandon, even when it turns out to be fruitless and futile

(I’m halfway done with college. It’s tough and not fun as I thought it would be. I guess I’ll finish it and get my degree)

Question 13

Appeal to Authority

Answer 13

When someone accepts a trith on blind faith just because someone they admire said it.

Question 14

Equivocation / Ambiguity

Answer 14

When a word, phrase or sentence is used deliberately to confuse, deceive or mislead by sounding one thing but actually saying something else

(Fired from my job to early retirement)

Question 15

Appeal to Pity

Answer 15

Appeals to the compassion and emotional sensitivity of others when these factors are not strictly to the argument

(How can you eat that innocent little chicken?)

Question 16

Bandwagon Fallacy

Answer 16

Assumes something is true because other people agree with it.

(All my friends are doing a keto diet. That must be the only way to lose weight)