Logical Fallacies Flashcards
An argument being directed at the person instead of the argument that they’re making
Example: “Before you listen to her, I must remind you that she’s been charged with fraud.”
Ad hominem
Occurs when someone uses an authoritative figure’s opinion as evidence to suppose them
Example: “Because I said so; I have more life experience than you.”
Appeal to authority
Argues actions and policies as acceptable because they always have been
Example: “Traditionally, men have always been the United States president. Therefore men always should be president.”
Appeal to history
Appeal to common belief; Everyone else is doing it
Example: “Its okay to cheat on a test because everyone else is doing it.”
Bandwagon
An argument that comes back to the beginning without proving anything
Example: “Our boss is the right person for the job because they had been promoted to boss.”
Circular reasoning
A condition must be necessary in which for the event to occur
Example: “I already had put gas in my car, but I’m not sure why it’s still not running.”
Confusing Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
Just because something is likely or closely related, it doesn’t mean that it necessarily caused the event to happen.
Example: “Shark attacks increase along with ice cream sales.”
Correlation, not Causation
Containing facts, statements, and ideas that are inconsistent.
Example: “I believe in freedom of speech, but we should censor hate speech.”
Inconsistency
To draw a conclusion from insufficient evidence, broadens one situation as all
Example: “My grandfather was a smoker all his life, and he was able to live until ninety. Therefore smokers have a long life expectancy.”
Generalization
Forcing someone to pick between two sides when there are really other possibilities
Example: “You can only join this fitness training program or stay unhealthy and sad.”
False dilemma
A dramatic sequence of events
Example: “If the drinking age is lowered, we will have ten year olds getting drunk in bars!”
Slippery slope
Misrepresenting the opponent’s argument to discredit them purposely.
Example: “Would you let anyone into the border? Including murderers and criminals?”
Straw man
A type of ad hominem that discredits the argument by personally attacking a person’s actions and behavior.
Example: “After a parent scolds their child about the dangers of smoking and underage drinking, they rebut their statement by calling them a hypocrite as they did the same thing at their age.”
Tu quoque
Two things being compared that aren’t alike
Example: “Comparing a stack of pennies to a wire because they’re both made from copper.”
Weak analogy
