Fallacy Example Flashcards
Betty is opposed to capital punishment by lethal injection. But doctors inject patients with all sorts of medications every day. For example , Vaccines against flu, pneumonia, and tetanus are injected into millions of patients. Antibiotics are injected for a while host of bacterial infections , and insulin is injected for diabetes. Obviously, Betty’s views are not supported by the evidence.
Red Herring - the discussion was diverted into a new direction.
Harry shouldn’t be thrown out of college for cheating ,he’s been on academic probation for the past year and this has caused terrible stress. The poor guy hasn’t been able to sleep at night he can’t keep his food down, and he is constantly sick with worry about this future. Surely you can find it in your heart to give him a second chance.
Appeal to pity- relying on sense of pity
The constitution guarantees freedom of speech for everyone. Therefore, children have a right to sass their parents.
Accident- inappropriately applied a rule to the case a hand
Amanda has a Rottweiler dog, and it attacked and seriously injured one of her neighbors. David has a Rottweiler and it showed up his wife. The conclusion is obvious that rot Ryler’s or just plain vicious.
Hasty generalization- relying on one sample
Either you vote for Senator Rogers or you don’t care about the environment. The choice is yours.
False Dichotomy - presents only two options are possible when could be more
Ending one’s own life is moral because people are rightfully in charge of their own lives. And this is so because people have the freedom to determine their own destiny. And this follows from the fact that people have the mall right to decide whether they live or die. And this is true because ending one’s own life is moral.
Begging the question- premise is constantly reworded
Nobody has ever prove that the universe wasn’t created in six days. Therefore we must conclude that the universe was indeed created in six days, just like it says in genesis.
Appeal to ignorance - claims a statement must be true because it wasn’t proven otherwise.
Paul’s argument against hiring illegal aliens is totally worthless. For six years Paul hired an undocumented nanny from Guatemala to take care of his kids.
Tu Quoque- avoiding issues by making hypocritical claims about someone else
The famous author, sir Anthony Connan Doyle, says he has communicated with departed souls. Therefore it follows there’s a life after death.
Appeal to an qualified authority- relies on opinions of other
You should never buy your child a goldfish, because it will be a hamster and then a rabbit. After that the kid will scream for a cat and then a dog. Next it will be a horse, then a water buffalo, and finally an elephant. The cost of pet food will drive you to the poorhouse.
Slippery slope- connect of series that lead to inevitable
My goodness, I haven’t seen you since high school. Tell me are you still as vain as you used to be?
Complex question- contains a hidden assumption
Attorney James Smith has over 20 suits. Therefore her wardrobe must be rather substantial.
Equivocation - unintentional or intentional shift In meaning
Every hair on Mary’s hair will fall out within five years. Therefore Mary will be bald within five years.
Composition - transfers attributes
You had better not tell anyone that I stole that apple from the teachers desk. I am sure you don’t want to come to class with a bloody nose in a black eye tomorrow.
Appeal to fear/force - threats and harmful outcomes
For the last 50 years, whenever the American League win the World Series, there was a recession that year, but when the National League one, stock prices went up. There must be some unknown economic force at work that we don’t understand.
False clause - because another event occurred after another concluded the first even cause the others