Rhetorical Fallacies

Question 1

Appeal to Anonymous Authority

Answer 1

Using evidence from an unnamed ‘expert’, ‘study’, or generalized group (like ‘scientists’) to claim something is true.

Question 2

Appeal to Authority

Answer 2

Claiming something is true because an ‘expert’, whether qualified or not, says it is.“Over 400 prominent scientists and engineers dispute global warming.”

Question 3

Appeal to Common Practice

Answer 3

Claiming something is true because it’s commonly practiced.

“This bank has some problems with corruption. But there’s nothing going on here that doesn’t go on in all the other banks.”

Question 4

Appeal to Ignorance

Answer 4

A claim is true simply because it has not been proven false (or false because it has not been proven true).

“Nobody has proved to me there is a God. So there is no God.”

Question 5

Appeal to Incredulity

Answer 5

Because a claim sounds unbelievable, it must not be true.

“The eye is an incredibly complex biomechanical machine with thousands of interlocking parts. How could that exist without an intelligent designer?”

Question 6

Appeal to Money

Answer 6

Supposing that, if someone is rich or something is expensive, then it affects the truth of the claim.

“If it costs more, it must be better.”

Question 7

Appeal to Novelty

Answer 7

Supposing something is better because it is new or newer.

“Awesome! The latest version of this operating system is going to make my computer faster and better…”

Question 8

Appeal to Popular Belief

Answer 8

Claiming something is true because the majority of people believe it.

“Everyone knows milk is good for your bones.”

Question 9

Appeal to Popularity

Answer 9

Assuming because something could happen, it will inevitably happen.

“The odds of winning the lottery are one in a million. A million tickets were sold. Someone must have won.”

Question 10

Appeal to Tradition

Answer 10

Claiming something is true because it’s (apparently) always been that way.

“Marriage is the union between man and women. Therefore gay marriage is wrong.”

Question 11

Appeal to Fear

Answer 11

An argument is made by increasing fear and prejudice towards the opposing side.

“Before you know it there will be more mosques than churches.”

Question 12

Appeal to Consequences of a Belief

Answer 12

Arguing a belief is false because it implies something you’d rather not believe.

“That can’t be the Senator on that sex tape. If it were, he’d be lying about not knowing her. And he’s not the kind of man who would lie.”

Question 13

Appeal to Flattery

Answer 13

Using an irrelevant compliment to slip in an unfounded claim which is accepted along with the compliment.

“Intelligent and sophisticated readers will of course recognize a fallacy like this when they read one.”

Question 14

Appeal to Nature

Answer 14

Making your claim seem more true by drawing a comparison with the “good” natural world.

“Of course homosexuality is unnatural. You don’t see same-sex animals copulating.”

Question 15

Appeal to Pity

Answer 15

Attempt to induce pity to sway opponents.

“The former dictator is an old, dying man. It’s wrong to make him stand trial for these alleged offenses.”

Question 16

Appeal to Ridicule

Answer 16

Presenting the opponent’s argument in a way that makes it appear absurd.

“Faith in God is like believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.”

Question 17

Appeal to Spite

Answer 17

Dismissing a claim by appealing to a personal bias against the claimant.

“Don’t you just hate how those rich liberal-elite Hollywood actors go on TV to promote their agendas?”

Question 18

Appeal to Wishful Thinking

Answer 18

suggesting a claim is true or false just because you strongly hope it is.

“He wouldn’t lie. He’s our leader and a good American.”

Question 19

Anecdotal Evidence

Answer 19

Discounting evidence arrived at by systematic search or testing in favor of a few firsthand stories.

“I’m going to carry on smoking. My grandfather smoked 40 a day and he lived until he was 90!”