Logical Fallacies

Question 1

Non Sequitur

Answer 1

(Irrelevant argument) - When a conclusion does not follow from the premise.

Question 2

Slanted Language

Answer 2

Biasing the audience by using words with strong positive or negative connotations.

Question 3

Circular Reasoning

Answer 3

Repeating the same thing twice. (ie: “We should not do x because of x.”)

Question 4

Begging the Question

Answer 4

Assuming to be true that which needs to be proven.

Question 5

Red Herring

Answer 5

Sidetracking the discussion by bringing up totally unrelated issues to distract from the truth.

Question 6

False Authority

Answer 6

Citing the opinion of an “expert” who has no claim to expertise about the subject at hand.

Question 7

Ad Hominem

Answer 7

(Personal Attack) - criticizing a person’s appearance, personal habits, or character instead of dealing with the merits of the individual’s arguments.

Question 8

Ad Populum

Answer 8

(Bandwagon) - Implies something is right because “everyone is doing it.”

Question 9

Slippery Slope

Answer 9

Suggests that an event will cause a “domino effect” (series of uncontrollable consequences).

Question 10

False Cause

Answer 10

Asserts that one event leads to another when, in fact, the two events may be only loosely or coincidentally related.

Question 11

False Dilemma

Answer 11

(Either-or Fallacy) - Limits choices to only two alternatives when more exist.

Question 12

False Analogy

Answer 12

Claims two items to be alike when, in actuality, they are more different than similar.

Question 13

Hasty Generalization

Answer 13

Drawing a conclusion based on inadequate evidence.