Logical Fallacy

Question 1

Faulty Analogy

Answer 1

A false analogy is a type of informal fallacy. It states that since Item A and Item B both have Quality X in common, they must also have Quality Y in common.

Question 2

Sentimental Appeal

Answer 2

The sentimental fallacy, or, appeal to emotion is an attempt to assign emotion to an argument. Aims to provoke certain feelings from an audience that may sway their beliefs towards a certain topic. Can sway without any real evidence to prove validity = logical fallacy.

Question 3

Begging the Question

Answer 3

Begging the question is a logical fallacy in which an argument’s premises assume the truth of the conclusion. Arguments that beg the question work to obscure the actual points in controversy and can be looked at as a form of circular reasoning.

Question 4

Red Herring

Answer 4

irrelevant information is presented alongside relevant information, distracting attention from that relevant information

Question 5

Either or Choice

Answer 5

Sometimes called the “either-or” fallacy, a false dilemma is a logical fallacy that presents only two options or sides when there are many options or sides.

Question 6

Bandwagon

Answer 6

The bandwagon fallacy is also sometimes called the appeal to common belief or appeal to the masses because it’s all about getting people to do or think something because “everyone else is doing it” or “everything else thinks this.”

Question 7

Appeal to Tradition

Answer 7

The argument supports a position by appealing to long-standing or traditional opinion, as if the past itself were a kind of authority.

Question 8

Non-Sequitar

Answer 8

A non sequitur is a conclusion or reply that doesn’t follow logically from the previous statement.

Question 9

Dogmatism

Answer 9

the tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others.

Question 10

Oversimplication

Answer 10

The fallacy of oversimplification occurs when we attempt to make something appear simpler by ignoring certain relevant complexities.

Question 11

Ad Populum

Answer 11

The fallacy ad populum is similar to the ad verecundiam, the difference being that the source appealed to is popular opinion, or common knowledge, rather than a specified authority.

Question 12

Equivocation

Answer 12

the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication.

Question 13

Moral Equivalence

Answer 13

It is usually used to suggest a moral or ethical hierarchy for two sides in a conflict – that one is better or worse than the other.

Question 14

Appeal to False Authority

Answer 14

a fallacious argument that relies on the statements of a false authority figure, who is framed as a credible authority on the topic being discussed.

Question 15

Hasty Generalization

Answer 15

making a claim based on evidence that it just too small. Essentially, you can’t make a claim and say that something is true if you have only an example or two as evidence.

Question 16

Scare Tactics

Answer 16

The scare tactics fallacy, also known as an appeal to fear, is argumentation that uses fear, such as the fear caused by a seemingly reasonable potential adverse outcome, to coerce others into accepting the argument

Question 17

Ad-Hominem

Answer 17

a direct attack on the person

Question 18

Slippery Slope

Answer 18

The slippery slope fallacy works by creating an assumed relationship between two or more events.

Question 19

Cause/Effect (Post hoc ego)

Answer 19

Post hoc is a logical fallacy in which one event seems to be the cause of a later event because it occurred earlier.

Question 20

Guilt by Association

Answer 20

A guilt by association fallacy 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. The idea is that the person is “guilty” by simply being similar to this “bad” group and, therefore, should not be listened to about anything.

Question 21

Straw Man

Answer 21

This fallacy occurs when, in attempting to refute another person’s argument, you address only a weak or distorted version of it. Straw person is the misrepresentation of an opponent’s position or a competitor’s product to tout one’s own argument or product as superior.

Question 22

Slanting

Answer 22

The slanting fallacy occurs when someone deliberately biases something in their favor, e.g. they omit crucial data, deemphasize negative facts, or overemphasize the positive side of something in order to make the evidence for their argument look better

Question 23

Circular Reasoning

Answer 23

The fallacy of circular argument, known as petitio principii (“begging the question”), occurs when the premises presume, openly or covertly, the very conclusion that is to be demonstrated

Question 24

Appeal to Ignorance

Answer 24

Appeal to ignorance is also known as argument from ignorance, in which ignorance represents “a lack of contrary evidence” and becomes “a fallacy in informal logic.” It asserts that a proposition is true because it has not yet been proven as false.

Question 25

Tu Quoque Fallacy

Answer 25

Tu quoque is a type of ad hominem argument in which a person turns a charge back on his or her accuser: a logical fallacy.

Question 26

The Alphabet Soup

Answer 26

The deliberate and excessive use of acronyms and abbreviations to appear more knowledgeable in the subject or confuse others.

Question 27

Politically Correct

Answer 27

It is the assumption or admission that two or more groups, individuals, or ideas of groups or individuals, are equal, of equal value, or both true, based on the recent phenomenon of political correctness

Question 28

Genetic Fallacy

Answer 28

The genetic fallacy arises whenever we dismiss a claim or argument because of its origin or history.