Logical Fallacies - Emotional Appeals Flashcards
Appeal to authority
Using the testimony of a well known person or group that is not an expert in the subject
E.g. Michael Jordan uses American Express, so it must be a good charge card
Attack on the person
attacking the person’s character instead of the issue as long as the person’s character is not the issue
E.g. He is not Chinese, so he can’t understand Chinese history
Bandwagon Appeal
(similar to appeal to tradition) justifying something because “everybody is doing this” or “everybody believes this.”
Ex. I have to drink alcohol at social functions; everybody else does.
Equivocation
deceiving someone by playing with the multiple meanings of a word, phrase, or clause.
Ex. She is the smartest logician I’ve ever known. (She is the only logician I’ve ever
known.)
Loaded language (biased language)
using emotional words to prejudice the audience.
Ex. Mom, insisting that I do an hour of homework every day is child abuse.
Rationalization
using explanations that sound reasonable but are actually excuses to clear one of blame.
Ex. I failed that class because the professor does not like me.
Red herring
bringing in irrelevant issues to distract one’s opponent.
Ex. We should pass this new policy so that we can move on to more important matters.
Slanting
exaggerating evidence that favors one’s cause while avoiding complicating or contrary testimony.
Ex. Closing this factory will allow the company to generate higher profits and give its
employees raises.
Smokescreen
hiding damaging or disturbing information behind euphemisms.
Ex. The U.S. Goverrunent has relocated many Native Americans.
Transfer
(like appeal to authority or loaded language) using an allusion that gets people to transfer their feeling for one thing to another unrelated thing.
Ex. Peace of mind is a basic human need. Durak Insurance can give you peace ofmind.
