Fallacies Flashcards
Person A: “We should have stricter regulations on industrial pollution to protect the environment.”
Person B: “Person A wants to shut down all factories and leave thousands of people unemployed!”
Strawman
Parent: “You should stop smoking; it’s bad for your health.”
Child: “Why should I listen to you? You smoked when you were younger!”
Tu quoque
“Everyone knows that brand is the best, so it must be true!”
Appeal to popularity
“All trees have bark. Every dog barks. Therefore, every dog is a tree.”
Equivocation
Person A: “We need to increase funding for public education.”
Person B: “Of course you’d say that—you’re just a teacher looking for a raise.”
Ad hominem
“The Bible is true because it’s the Word of God, and we know it’s the Word of God because the Bible says so.”
Circular reasoning
“We shouldn’t trust his political views because he grew up in a communist country.”
Genetic fallacy
Person A: “We need to talk about how to reduce traffic in the city.”
Person B: “But what about the poor conditions of public parks?”
Red herring
A company claims their product is the best because it has “5-star reviews,” ignoring dozens of 1-star reviews.
Cherry picking
“Either you support this war, or you hate your country.”
False dilemma
“I met two rude people from that city; everyone from there must be unfriendly.”
Hasty generelization
“Dr. Famous Scientist endorses this diet pill, so it must be effective.”
Appeal to authority
Person A: “We need to address the increasing crime rates in our city.”
Person B: “Well, what about the corruption in the federal government?”
Red herring
“Millions of people have bought this phone—it must be the best one!”
Appeal to pop
“I had a terrible meal at that restaurant last night. All their food must be awful.”
Hasty generalization
Person A: “We should improve access to affordable healthcare.”
Person B: “Person A wants the government to control every aspect of our lives!”
Strawman
Friend: “You shouldn’t litter; it harms the environment.”
Response: “Why do you care? I saw you throw a can out of your car last week.”
Tu quoque
“You can’t trust what that scientist says about climate change; they work for an oil company.”
Genetic fallacy
“We either ban all social media or accept that privacy no longer exists.”
False dilemma
“Giving money to charity is the right thing to do, so charities have a right to our money.”
Equivocation
“Einstein believed in God, so there must be a God.”
Appeal to authority
Person A: “I think we should consider stricter gun control measures.”
Person B: “Why should we listen to you? You don’t even know how to use a gun!”
Ad hominem
A politician cites one study showing their policy works but ignores five other studies that show it has failed.
Cherry picking
“That idea came from ancient Greece, so it must be outdated.”
Genetic fallacy
Person A: “We need to address the increasing crime rates in our city.”
Person B: “Well, what about the corruption in the federal government?”
Red herring
