Fallacies of Logic

Question 1

Appeal to Emotion

Answer 1

-use emotion (ex: pity, fear, & flattery) to argue instead of using reason

Question 2

How can you find Appeal to Emotion?

Answer 2

By making misleading comparisons, using misleading/charged language, making statements in an emotional/passive way, using stories, relevant quotes, anecdotes, and metaphors.

Question 3

Appeal to Tradition

Answer 3

-An argument is true because it has long been held to be true
-“We’ve always done it that way!”

Question 4

Appeal to novelty

Answer 4

-new=true/good

Question 5

Appeal to Nature

Answer 5

-natural=good
-unnatural=bad

Question 6

Red Herring

Answer 6

-distraction from original issue
-pivoting
-avoid question and change subject

Question 7

Appeal to Authority

Answer 7

-an argument is tru because someone with authority thinks so

Question 8

Appeal to Motive

Answer 8

-saying that an argument is wrong by questioning the motive of the person who’s proposing the conclusion

Question 9

Arguementum Ad Populum

Answer 9

-saying an argument is true just because many people think it is
-ex: “The majority of voters are in favor of this law, so it’s a good law.”

Question 10

Ad Hominem

Answer 10

-discredit the person’s argument by discrediting the person (attack the person advocating for an argument to try and prove it wrong)

Question 11

Cherry Picking

Answer 11

-when only data that says one side is right is used and other data that says it’s wrong aren’t used
-like unaccounted for variables

Question 12

Unaccounted for Variables

Answer 12

-when a statement or comparison is made with limited facts about what is being compared
-ex: Climate change=global warming (there is more than just global warming as part of climate change)

Question 13

False Dilemma

Answer 13

-when 2 conclusions are said to be the only possible options
-ex: Use our fertilizer or your crops will die.

Question 14

Guilty by Association

Answer 14

-tries to confirm an accusation/claim by associating the person with something negative/perceived as negative
-ex: Your cousin is racist, so you are too!

Question 15

Strawman

Answer 15

-an argument based on misrepresentation of an opponent’s position
-sets up a false point (straw man) that the arguer never made and attacks it instead of the original argument
-ex: This senator wants to cut back on Air Force because he thinks it is wasteful spending. I disagree. Why does he want to leave our country defenseless?

Question 16

How do you identify a Strawman?

Answer 16

-“So you think…”
-oversimplifies
-takes out of context
-uses extreme version or fringe of an argument
-focuses on just one point

Question 17

Slippery Slope

Answer 17

-a small step will lead to a chain of events resulting in a big change
-ex: If we make same-sex marriage legal, then what stops us from making robot-human marriage legal?

Question 18

Appeal to Hypocrisy

Answer 18

-a certain position is wrong because the proposer fails to act in accordance with that position
-ex: Dogs are better than cats. (He owns a cat.)

Question 19

Begging the Question

Answer 19

-circular reasoning
-when the conclusion of the argument is assumed in one of the premises
-ex: My car is awesome, therefore my car is cool.

Question 20

Post Hoc (After this) Ergo (Therefore) Propter Hoc (Because of this)

Answer 20

-reach a conclusion of causation because 1 event followed another
-ex: It rained after I dropped my ice cream, so my ice cream falling caused it to rain.