Logical Fallacies

Question 0

You note the growing number of immigrants in a city, observe the cities economic decline. What strat?

Answer 0

Post hoc

Question 1

Pos hoc

Describe

Answer 1

Latin phrase meaning “after this, therefore this happens” occurs when you conclude that a cuase and effect relationship exists simply because one even preceded another

Question 2

Non Sequitur

Define

Answer 2

Latin “doesnt not follow” even more blatant muddying of cause and effect relationship, conclusion is drawn that has no logical connection to the evidence cited

Question 3

Non sequitur

Example

Answer 3

Lots of Americans own cars, so there is no beed for public transportation.

Question 4

Ad hominem

Define

Answer 4

Latin, “to the man” occurs when someone attacks a person rather than a point of view

Question 5

Ad hominem

Example

Answer 5

You college plans to sponsor a symposium on abortion, you send emails attacking the speakers and their history

Question 6

Appeals to questionable or faulty authority

Define

Answer 6

Weakens an argument, references vague sources

Question 7

Begging the question

Define

Answer 7

Failure to establish proof for a debatable point

Question 8

Begging the question

Example

Answer 8

The writer expects readers to accept as given a premise thats actually controversial. For instance you would have trouble convincing readers thst prayer should be banned from public schools because they violate the constitution

Question 9

False analogy

Define

Answer 9

Wrongly implies that because two things share some characteristics, they are therefore alike in all respects

Question 10

False analogy

Example

Answer 10

Compare nicotine to marijuana. Both involve health risks and have addictive properties. You could conclude “Driving while smoking a cigarette isn’t illegal, so driving while smoking marijuana shouldn’t be illegal either.”

Question 11

Either/or fallacy

Define

Answer 11

Occurs when you assume that a particular viewpoint or course of action can only have one of two diametrically opposed outcome
Either totally this or totally that

Question 12

Either/or fallacy

Example

Answer 12

“If you don’t pay for gas, we’re not going to the movies ever again.”

Question 13

Red Herring

Define

Answer 13

An intentional digression from the issue-a ploy to deflect attention from the matter being discussed.

Question 14

Red herring

Example

Answer 14

A local environmental group advocates stricter pesticide controls at nearby farms; the groups evidence includes statistics indicating that a higher number of migrant workers are exposed to chemicals. You respond, “their illegal, they don’t deserve protection anyways.” Boom, sidetracked

Question 15

Glittering generalities

Define

Answer 15

Opposite of name calling. Advertisers or others surround their product or ideas with attractive-and slippery- words and phrases. They use vague terms that are difficult to define and that may have different meanings to different people: freedome, democratic, all-American, prgressive, christian, family-oriented, and justice.

Question 16

Card stacking

Define

Answer 16

One side doesn’t have a fair chance. Applied to either propaganda or half truths, oversimplify the facts, set up a false target.

Question 17

Card stacking

Example

Answer 17

Candidate says “the other guy has changed opinions 5 times on this issue.” He doesn’t state the reason, whereas the other guy actually did have very good reasons for doing so.