Logical Fallacies Flashcards
Slippery Slope
When someone makes a claim about a series of events that would lead to one major event, usually a bad event.
Appeal to Emotion
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.
Guilt by Association
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.
Appeal to Nature
Because something is ‘natural’ it is therefore valid, justified, inevitable, good or ideal.
False Causation
Occurs when the link between premises and conclusion depends on some imagined causal connection that probably does not exist.
Appeal to Authority
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.
Argumentum ad Hominem
Arguments attack a person’s character rather than reasoning though the issues.
Red Herring
Attempts to distract by shifting attention away from the important issue.
Ad Populum (Bandwagon)
An argument that appeals to emotions or prejudices of a certain group, despite being logically unsounded.
Ad Misericordiam
An argument that appeals to pity.
Non-Sequitur
This fallacy draws conclusions from premises that do not necessarily apply.
False Dichotomy
The either/ or fallacy that makes the assumption that are only two alternatives.
Straw Person
Arguments excessively simplify an opponent’s argument to argue against it more easily.
Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning)
Occurs when a writer assumes that the statement under dispute is in fact true; such an argument is circular.
Sentimental Appeals
Tug at an audience’s heart strings to the point of ignoring facts, perhaps to keep the audience from disagreeing with the writer.
