Logical Fallacies

Question 1

Appeal to pity

Answer 1

This type of fallacy uses the audiences’s sympathy, concern, or guilt in order to overwhelm their sense of logic

Question 2

What is an example of appealing to pity?

Answer 2

“I deserve to pass this course because I’ve had a lot of problems at home.”

Question 3

Appeal to prejudice

Answer 3

Using loaded or emotive terms to attach value or moral goodness to believing the proposition. Racist, sexist, classist, and homophobic language can be used to incite a crowd—should be avoided

Question 4

What is an example of appealing to prejudice?

Answer 4

A newspaper that creates a patriotic frenzy through exaggerated reports of enemy “atrocities,” or a political that claims her was raised in “this great state” and loves his children and wife. These facts appeal to voter but have nothing to do with his performance in office.

Question 5

Appeal to tradition

Answer 5

A fallacy which assumes that something old is automatically better than something new. Fallacious when tradition becomes the only reason for justifying a position.

Question 6

What is an example of appealing to tradition?

Answer 6

“This is the way it always has been, so this is the way it always should be.”

Question 7

Arguing by analogy

Answer 7

An analogy is a comparison that works on more than one level, and it’s possible to use an analogy effectively when reasoning inductively, but fallacious if the two things being compared don’t have several relevant characteristics in common.

Question 8

What is an example of arguing by analogy?

Answer 8

A good football player makes a good politician because of teamwork (BAD EXAMPLE).

Competition is good for schools because competition is good for business (GOOD EXAMPLE).

Question 9

What fallacy is commonly referred to as an “ad hominem”?

Answer 9

Attacking the character of opponents

Question 10

Attacking the character of opponents

Answer 10

A fallacy that attacks the character of the opponent rather than dealing with the real issue of the dispute.

Question 11

Attributing false causes

Answer 11

Assuming that something is merely the result of something that came before it.

Question 12

What fallacy is commonly referred to as a “post hoc fallacy”?

Answer 12

Attributing false causes

Question 13

What is an example of attributing false causes?

Answer 13

“The economy started going bad after the eclipse last month.”

Question 14

Attributing guilt by association

Answer 14

Frequently in politics, especially towards the end of a campaign.

Question 15

What is an example of attributing guilt by association?

Answer 15

“A candidate who is religious is held accountable for the actions of all men and women who hold to that particular faith.”

Question 16

Begging the question/circular reasoning

Answer 16

The writer begins with a premise that is acceptable only to anyone who will agree with the conclusion that is subsequently the premise itself.

Question 17

What is an example of begging the question/circular reasoning?

Answer 17

Beginning an essay with “required courses like first year composition are a waste of time” and concluding with “first-year composition should not be a required course.”

Question 18

Equivocating

Answer 18

Using vague or ambiguous language to mislead, often taking the form of using one word in several different senses without acknowledging the change in meaning.

Question 19

What is an example of equivocating?

Answer 19

“Right, society, justice, freedom law, real”make sure the meaning is clear.

Question 20

Ignoring the question

Answer 20

A speaker’s attempt to divert the attention of the audience from the matter at hand

Question 21

What is an example of ignoring the question?

Answer 21

“Never mind the budget! I’m sick of worrying about money! We need to talk about what’s happening to our relationship!”

Question 22

Jumping to conclusions

Answer 22

When the conclusion in question has not been supported by an adequate amount of evidence (so common it has become a cliche).

Question 23

What is an example of jumping to conclusions?

Answer 23

“One green apple is sour, so all green apples are sour.”

Question 24

Opposing a straw man

Answer 24

Setting up artificial opposition they can easily refute. Exaggerating the views of others or responding only to an extreme view that doesn’t represent the opponent’s argument.

Question 25

Presenting a false dilemma

Answer 25

Writer poses a choice between two alternative while overlooking other possibilities and implying they don’t exist.

Question 26

What is an example of a false dilemma?

Answer 26

“Would you rather have low grades or cheat”? (you can study to get high grades without cheating)

Question 27

Reasoning that does not follow

Answer 27

A conclusion that doesn’t follow logically from the explanation given for it (a cause and effect relationship is claimed but not explained.

Question 28

What fallacy is commonly referred to as “non sequitur”?

Answer 28

Reasoning that does not follow

Question 29

What is an example of reasoning that does not follow?

Answer 29

“Mr. Bland is young, so he’ll make a good teacher.”

Question 30

Sliding down a slippery slope

Answer 30

One step inevitably leads to an undesirable end.

Question 31

What is an example of a slippery slope?

Answer 31

“Legalizing abortions will lead to legalizing euthanasia.”