Logical Fallacies Flashcards
Strawman Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker exaggerates, misrepresents, or completely makes up their opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack
Slippery Slope Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker says that if we allow A to happen, then Z (a crazy, much worse thing) will eventually happen too; therefore, A should not happen
Ad Hominem Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker attacks their opponent’s character or personal traits in an attempt to weaken their argument
Ad Populum Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker concludes that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it: “If many believe so, it must be true.”
Either/Or Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker presents two alternative states as the only possibilities, when in fact more possibilities exist
Circular Reasoning Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker makes a proposition that is supported by an assumption, which is supported by the proposition, creating a circle in reasoning where no useful information is being shared.
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc Fallacy
“after this, therefore resulting from it”: A logical fallacy in which the speaker indicates that because two things are related, that one causes the other
Red Herring Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker presents information to mislead or distract from a relevant or important issue
Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy
a logical fallacy in which the speaker picks specific evidence to suit their argument
WHAT FALLACY? “The Pittsburgh Penguins are the best hockey team because they’re better than the other teams.”
ANSWER: Circular reasoning
WHAT FALLACY? “I crashed my car after listening to Young Thug; therefore, listening to Young Thug made me crash my car.”
ANSWER: Post hoc ergo propter hoc
WHAT FALLACY? “Try Netflix today. 11 million users can’t be wrong!”
ANSWER: Ad populum
WHAT FALLACY? “People who believe in evolution think our grandparents were monkeys!”
ANSWER: straw man
WHAT FALLACY? Ron Swanson said, “Either you give me all your bacon or the world will end in FLAMES.”
ANSWER: Either/or
WHAT FALLACY? “My opponent wants us to spend government funds to ensure cleaner factories. How can he worry about that when we’re in the middle of a war on drugs?”
ANSWER: Red herring
