Fallacies Flashcards
Use of emotion to distract the audience from the facts and manipulate them into drawing faulty conclusions. Intentional. Past tense.
“The baby seals that were killed…”
Sob Story
Providing easy answers to complicated questions. Appeals to emotion rather than logic. Intentional.
Oversimplification
Use of unrelated evidence to support a conclusion. Intentional. Emotional.
“Painting is worthless because the artist is unknown.”
Red Herring
Trying to frighten people into agreeing with the arguer by threatening or predicting dire circumstances. Intentional. Future tense.
“If you don’t [insert action], your family will be poor.”
Scare Tactics
Encourages an audience to agree because everyone else does. Crowd appeal. Intentional
“Fifty million people cannot be wrong!”
Bandwagon Appeal
Argument suggesting one thing will lead to another, ending badly for the victim. Future tense. Multiple events
TWC ads.
Slippery Slope
Reducing of complicated issues to two courses of action. Intentional.
“Either you go to college or die without a legacy.”
Either / Or Choice
Create unnecessary desire for things. Intentional. Present tense.
“You need this duster because it reaches things you cannot!”
False Need
Asks audiences to agree with the assertion of a writer because of their character. Ethical appeal. May not be fully qualified to offer that assertion.
“My high school teacher said it, so it must be true.”
False Authority
Assertion of a claim without presenting a reason to support it.
Failing to Accept the Burden of Proof
Someone offers personal authority as proof. Intentional.
“My best friend wouldn’t do that”
Using Authority Instead of Evidence (Overreliance on authority)
Calls someone’s character into question based on the character of their associates. Intentional.
“Bill is friends with Bob, who robbed a bank. Therefore, Bill is a bank robber and cannot be trusted.”
Guilt By Association
Asserts that the writer’s beliefs are the only acceptable ones. Intentional.
“That’s that”
Dogmatism
Compares minor problems to serious crimes. Intentional.
“Making people share in school is Communist.”
Moral Equivalence
Arguments attacking a person’s character. Intentional.
“A candidate recently divorced is a bad keeper of promises”
Ad Hominem
