Fallacies

Question 1

False Dichotomy

Answer 1

Presents situation as though there are only two possibilities when intact there are more.
E.g. Either you are vegan or you hate animals

Question 2

Equivocation

Answer 2

Sliding between two meanings of a word as if the word has the same meaning in each instance

Question 3

Appeal to authority

Answer 3

Reason given to believe the conclusion is because some respected person believes it to be the case

Question 4

Appeal to ignorance

Answer 4

Justifying belief in a view because of lack of evidence for an alternative view
E.g. Aliens exist because it hasn’t been proven that they don’t

Question 5

Ad populum

Answer 5

Using reason that many people do/ believe something, therefore it must be true
Eg. many people text and drive so it is right for me to do so

Question 6

Ad hominum

Answer 6

Discrediting a view by showing some deeply disrespected person or group having that view
Eg. Trum is a vegen, therefore veganism is wrong

Question 7

Hasty generalisation

Answer 7

Draw a sweeping conclusion based on too little evidence

Question 8

Circular reasoning

Answer 8

Rephrasing conclusion of argument and using it as a premise

Eg. Obesity is unhealthy because it is bad for your health

Question 9

Slippery slope

Answer 9

Small event predicted to have serious consequences, but no good reason to think consequences will occur
Eg. if we legalise weed, everyone will come to work high, productivity will decrease, economic growth will be halted and South Africa will be doomed

Question 10

Straw man

Answer 10

present weakest version of opponents argument (often through misinterpretation) and then defeat this version of the view