Informal Fallacies Examples

Question 1

Person A: “I think we should invest more in improving public schools to enhance the quality of education.”

Person B: “So, you’re saying we should throw all our money into schools and have no funds left for anything else? That’s absurd!”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 1

The Straw Man fallacy.

Question 2

Person A: “I believe it’s important to limit screen time for children and encourage more outdoor activities to promote their physical and mental well-being.”

Person B: “So, you want to completely forbid children from using any electronic devices and isolate them from the digital world?”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 2

The Straw Man fallacy.

Question 3

“The Bible is the word of God because it says so, and we know it’s true because it is the word of God.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 3

Begging the Question.

Question 4

“This policy is beneficial because it is the best option available, and it is the best option available because it is beneficial.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 4

Begging the Question.

Question 5

“Only man is rational. No woman is a man. Therefore, no woman is rational.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 5

The Equivocation fallacy.

Question 6

A drunk driver who has consumed 2 beers and an entire bottle of vodka. When pulled over by the police, he says: “I only had a couple of beers”.

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 6

The Equivocation fallacy.

Question 7

“Each piece of paper in this book is thin. Therefore, this entire book must be thin.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 7

The fallacy of Composition.

Question 8

“Each player on the team is highly skilled. Therefore, the entire team must be unbeatable.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 8

The fallacy of Composition.

Question 9

“The company is very successful. Therefore, each employee must be highly successful.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 9

The fallacy of Division.

Question 10

“Our country has a high GDP. Therefore, every citizen must be wealthy.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 10

The fallacy of Division.

Question 11

Person A: “We should invest more in healthcare to ensure everyone has access to quality medical services.”

Person B: “Opponent A is just a greedy doctor who wants to increase their own profits.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 11

The Ad Hominem fallacy.

Question 12

Worker A: “I believe implementing flexible working hours would benefit employees and lead to higher productivity.”

Response: “Well, you’re always late to work and never meet deadlines, so your opinion on productivity doesn’t matter.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 12

The Ad Hominem fallacy.

Question 13

“You can’t trust anything he says. He comes from a family with a history of criminal behaviour.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 13

The Genetic fallacy.

Question 14

“That research paper can’t be reliable. It was published in a lesser-known journal.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 14

The Genetic fallacy.

Question 15

“Dr. Smith, a renowned physicist, says that ghosts exist. Therefore, ghosts must be real.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 15

The Appeal to Authority fallacy.

Question 16

“The experts say medicine X is effective and necessary, so you should trust its effectiveness and necessity without question.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 16

The Appeal to Authority fallacy.

Question 17

“If you try one cigarette, you’ll become addicted to smoking. Soon, you’ll be smoking a pack a day, get cancer, and die.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 17

The Slippery Slope fallacy.

Question 18

“If we allow students to use smartphones in the classroom for educational purposes, it will lead to complete chaos. Next, they’ll be using them for social media, then they’ll start cheating on tests, and eventually, no one will be focused on learning anymore.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 18

The Slippery Slope fallacy.

Question 19

“You’re either a success or a failure. If you haven’t achieved great things in your career, then you’re a failure.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 19

The False Dilemna fallacy.

Question 20

“You’re either with us or against us. If you don’t support our political party, you must be against the country.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 20

The False Dilemna fallacy.

Question 21

“I met one rude person from that country, so all people from that country must be rude.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 21

The Hasty Generalisation fallacy.

Question 22

“I tried one brand of this product, and it didn’t work for me. Therefore, all brands of this product must be ineffective.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 22

The Hasty Generalisation fallacy.

Question 23

“There’s no evidence that medicine X is harmful, so medicine X is safe.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 23

The Appeal to Ignorance fallacy.

Question 24

“No one has disproven the existence of aliens, so aliens must exist.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 24

The Appeal to Ignorance fallacy.

Question 25

Person A: “You should really start cleaning up your dirty dishes after meals. It’s not fair for others to have to deal with the mess.”

Person B: “Well maybe I wouldn’t leave dishes in the sink if you didn’t blast your music late at night. It’s disruptive and inconsiderate.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 25

The Red Herring fallacy.

Question 26

“When asked about their involvement in the scandal, the politician starts talking about their accomplishments in office.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 26

The Red Herring fallacy.

Question 27

“Every time I wear my lucky socks, my team wins. Therefore, my lucky socks must be the reason for their victories.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 27

The False Cause fallacy.

Question 28

“Crime rates increased after the release of that violent video game, so the game must be causing the rise in crime.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 28

The False Cause fallacy.

Question 29

“Processed foods contain artificial ingredients, but these organic fruits are natural, so they must be healthier and better for you.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 29

The Appeal to Nature fallacy.

Question 30

“Chemical medications have side effects, but this herbal remedy is all-natural, so it must be completely safe and effective.”

Which fallacy is this?

Answer 30

The Appeal to Nature fallacy.