Logical Fallacies

Question 1

Straw man

Answer 1

Refuting a statement by intentionally misrepresenting it

Question 2

Slippery slope

Answer 2

Arguing that one step will surely lead to many others with catastrophic results

Question 3

Special pleading

Answer 3

Applying some standards and rules to other people, while not applying them to yourself

Question 4

Gamblers fallacy

Answer 4

If something has happened very frequently in the past, and it is assumed it will happen less frequently in the future

Question 5

Black or white

Answer 5

Presenting two alternatives as the only possibilities, when more exist in between

Question 6

False cause

Answer 6

Believing that a presumed or real relationship between two things is the cause of the other

Question 7

Ad hominem

Answer 7

Attacking someone personally instead of their argument

Question 8

Loaded question

Answer 8

Asking a question in such a way that assures one’s opponent appears guilty

Question 9

Bandwagon

Answer 9

Assuming that the opinion of the majority is always valid

Question 10

Begging the question

Answer 10

When an arguments premise assumes the truth of the conclusion instead of supporting it

Question 11

Appeal to authority

Answer 11

Claiming that something is true because it is believed it promoted by someone “of authority”

Question 12

Appeal to nature

Answer 12

Assuming something is good because it is “natural” or found in nature

Question 13

Fallacy of composition

Answer 13

Believing that something is true for the whole because it is true for one part of something

Question 14

Anecdote

Answer 14

Using a personal experience or isolated incident instead of facts and a solid argument

Question 15

False analogy

Answer 15

Using and inappropriate or misleading compassion to prove a point

Question 16

Appeal to emotion

Answer 16

Attempting to manipulate one’s opponent by eliciting an emotional response

Question 17

Tu quoque

Answer 17

Trying to discredit an argument by pointing out that the opponent has not been totally consistent with their beliefs in the past

Question 18

Burden of proof

Answer 18

Making a claim that needs justification and then demanding that the opponent justifies the opposite of the claim

Question 19

No true Scotsman

Answer 19

Rendering an argument unfalsifiable because no matter how compelling the evidence is one simply shifts the goalpost so that it wouldn’t apply to a supposedly true example

Question 20

The Texas sharpshooter

Answer 20

Occurs when the differences in data are ignored but the similarities are stressed

Question 21

The fallacy-fallacy

Answer 21

Presuming that because the argument was poorly argued, the entirety of it must be wrong

Question 22

Personal incredulity

Answer 22

Presuming that because a claim has been poorly argued or because the arguer doesn’t have much personal credibility the entire argument must be wrong

Question 23

Circular reasoning

Answer 23

When the arguer begins an argument with their concluding point

Question 24

Genetic fallacy

Answer 24

Disputing a fact based on someone or something’s history, origin or source rather than its current meaning or context

Question 25

Middle ground

Answer 25

Asserts that the truth is essentially found in the middle of two arguments

Question 26

Non-sequitur

Answer 26

A conclusion that is not aligned with previous statements or evidence