Fallacies

Question 1

attacking a persons motive or character instead of his/her argument

Answer 1

ad hominem

Question 1

the idea that if many or most people believe something, it must be true

bandwagon

Answer 1

ad populem

Question 2

use of an authority figure in a reference to the argument, which implies that the authority supports to the argument when they may not

Answer 2

ad verecundiam

Question 3

an argument in which the conclusion you are trying to prove is assumed in the premise

circular reasoning

Answer 3

begging the question

Question 4

asserts that a situation can have only two possible outcomes, one of which is definetly preferable

Answer 4

either/or fallacy

Question 5

basing a conclusion on too little evidence

Answer 5

hasty generalization

Question 6

“does not follow”

an attempt to relate two or more ideas which are not related; one idea does not logically lead to the next

Answer 6

non sequitur

Question 7

trying to provide a simple solution to a complex problem

Answer 7

oversimplifacation

Question 8

the assumption than an earlier event causes a later event, which there may be no connection between them

false cause/effect relationship

Answer 8

post hoc

Question 9

bringing up something that distracts the audience’s attention from the real issue

Answer 9

red herring

Question 10

the use of statistical evidence in order to mislead

Answer 10

misleading statistics

Question 11

when someone distorts or exaggerates another person’s argument, and then attacks the distorted version of the argument

Answer 11

straw man

Question 12

situation is not similar enough to make a comparison

Answer 12

false anaolgy

Question 13

attempts to discredit a proposition by arguing that its acceptance will lead to a sequence of bad events

assuming things will escalate quickly

Answer 13

slippery slope

Question 14

equivalence is drawn between two subjects based on flawed or false reasoning

comparing apples to oranges

Answer 14

false equivalence