Logical Fallacies

Question 1

Argumentum Ad Hominem

Answer 1

Argument against the person: arguments attack a person’s [character] rather than [reasoning through] the issues.

Question 2

Red Herring

Answer 2

attempts to [distract] by shifting attention [away from an] important issue.

Question 3

Ad Populum (Bandwagon)

Answer 3

an argument that appeals to [emotions or prejudices] of a certain group, despite being [logically wrong].

Question 4

Ad Misericordiam

Answer 4

an argument that appeals [to pity].

Question 5

Non-Sequitur

Answer 5

This fallacy draws conclusions [from premises] that do not [necessarily apply to each other].

Question 6

False Dichotomy.

Answer 6

The either/ or fallacy that makes the assumption that [there are only two alternatives].

Question 7

Straw Person .

Answer 7

Straw Person arguments [excessively simplify ] an opponent’s [viewpoint] to argue against it more easily.

Question 8

Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning).

Answer 8

occurs when a writer assumes that [a statement under dispute] is in fact true; such an argument [circular].

Question 9

Sentimental Appeals

Answer 9

tug at an audience’s [heart string] to the point of [ignoring the facts], perhaps to keep the audience from [disagreeing from the writer].

Question 10

Equivocation (splitting hairs)

Answer 10

a statement that is [partially correct] but that [purposely obscures] the entire truth.

Question 11

A Faulty Analogy.

Answer 11

an [inaccurate], [inappropriate], or [misleading] comparison between two things.

Question 12

A Hasty Generalization

Answer 12

draws conclusions from [scanty evidence].

Question 13

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc After this, therefore because of this

Answer 13

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc After this, therefore because of this: an argument assumes [causation] based on the [passing of time].

Question 14

Ad Ignorantiam An appeal to ignorance

Answer 14

an argument that claims something is [true or false] because there is [no evidence to prove otherwise].

Question 15

Reductio Ad Absurdum Reduction to the absurd

Answer 15

a disproof by showing that [the consequences] of the proposition [are absurd]; or proof of a proposition by showing [that its negation] leads to [a contradiction].

Question 16

Slippery Slope

Answer 16

Slippery Slope: when someone makes a claim about a series of events that would lead to one major event, usually a bad event.

Question 17

Appeal to Emotion: (argumentum ad passiones)

Answer 17

a logical fallacy characterized by the manipulation of the recipient’s emotions in order to win an argument, especially in the absence of factual evidence

Question 18

Guilt by Association.

Answer 18

occurs when someone connects an opponent to a demonized group of people or to a bad person in order to discredit his or her argument.

Question 19

Appeal to Nature

Answer 19

because something is ‘natural’ it is therefore valid, justified, inevitable, good or idea

Question 20

False Causation

Answer 20

occurs when the link between premises and conclusion depends on some imagined causal connection that probably does not exist.

Question 21

Appeal to Authority: (argumentum ad verecundiam)

Answer 21

Insisting that a claim is true simply because a valid authority or expert on the issue said it was true, without any other supporting evidence offered.