Download - 21 Logical Fallacies
21 LOGICAL 21 LOGICAL FALLACIESFALLACIES
English IIIEnglish III
What is a logical fallacy?
Error in reasoning that undermines the logic of an argument
Can be illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points
Usually lack evidence to support evidence to support claims
1. Ad Hominem
Literally means “against the man” Attacks the person creating the
argument Diverts from the actual validity of an
argument
Ex. Bob’s idea is wrong because he does not like cats. People who hate cats are horrible.
2. Ambiguity
As a feature of language, ambiguity occurs when a word or phrase has more than one meaning.
Example:The warrant officer sent city police out at
11:38 a.m. to kick kids off the roof of a downtown furniture store.
3. Appeal to Ignorance
A proposition is true simply on the basis that it has not been proven false or that it is false simply because it has not been proven true.
Example:Since the class has no questions
concerning the topics discussed in class, the class is ready for a test.
4. Appeal to Pity
When a person substitutes a claim intended to create pity for evidence in an argument.
Example:Haley: "He'd be a terrible coach for the
team." Shayna: "He had his heart set on the job, and it would break if he didn't get it." Haley: "I guess he'll do an adequate job."
5. Bandwagon
Bases argument around what the majority believe
The majority’s opinion must be correct; thus, a person should believe in the majority
Ex. Ninety percent of people prefer Apple computers to IBMs; thus Apple computers are better than IBM computers.
6. Begging the Question
Using the conclusion as a premise to prove the conclusion. (redundancy)
Example:I was late because I didn't get there in time.ExampleYou want to know why I failed the test? I
failed the test because I didn't pass it.
7. Circular argumentation
Also known as “begging the question” Assumes what it tries to prove Writer or speaker uses no actual proof to
support their claims
Ex. Bill Clinton is a good orator because he speaks effectively.
8. Either/or Fallacy
Writer or speaker implies there are only two choices
Creates a simple outcome to a complex problem
Usually uses very strong generalizations
Either you can stay in here or go outside and freeze to death.
9. Faulty Authority
When a person in question is not a legitimate authority on the subject.
Example:I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.
10. Genetic Fallacy
Idea, person, or product is untrustworthy due to racial, geographic, or ethnic origin.
Ex 1. That car must have failing brakes because it was made in Japan!
Ex 2. All of these Chinese products cannot be any good. They were probably made using cheap Chinese labor.
11. Guilt by Association
A fallacy in which a person rejects a claim simply because it is pointed out that people she dislikes accept the claim.
Example:Social security is a state funded old-age
pension.Nazis supported state funded old-age pensions.Therefore, social security is bad.
12. Hasty Generalization
Known as “Dicto Simpliciter” Uses faulty inductive reasoning Bases reasoning on insufficient or biased
evidence Usually not an accurate statement
Ex. Fifty percent of women trying to get their license failed. Thus women are bad at driving. But, this sample was taken from two women.
13. Moral Equivalence
Compares harmless actions with atrocious behavior
Unfair and inaccurate comparison
Ex. That parking attendant who gave me a ticket is as bad as Hitler.
14. Non Sequitur
Literally means “It does not follow” Any argument that does not follow from
previous statements Speaker may leave out a step in her
argument Conclusion may be completely unrelated
Ex. Ralph Wiggum: Martin Luther King had a dream. Dreams are where Elmo and Toy Story had a party and I was invited. Yay! My turn is over!Principal Skinner: One of your best, Ralphie.("The Color Yellow," The Simpsons)
15. Oversimplification
Ignoring the complicated issues behind an argument.
Very often only one possible cause for a current situation is addressed rather than addressing the multiple causes that often gives rise to the problem.
Example: If Joe would just stop smoking, he could avoid a heart attack.
16. Post Hoc
Writer or speaker assumes a false relationship between two events simply because one event happened before another.
No actual correlation between the two events is established
Ex. A black cat crossed my path. Later, I took Mr. Boesch’s lit term quiz and failed. The cat must have caused me to fail.
17. Red Herring
Attempts to change the subject Use to divert argument from the real
issues Usually changes the subject to
something completely irrelevant
Ex. We admit healthcare important, but the issue at hand here is childhood obesity.
18. Scare Tactic
Creating fear in people, which does not constitute evidence for a claim.
Example:Because of the possibility of a terrorist
hijacking or a mechanical failure, flying on a plane is too dangerous and should be avoided altogether.
19. Slippery Slope
Argues one action will lead to an array of others with undesirable consequence
Chain of events cannot be stopped in the middle
Ex. Once the debt ceiling is increased once, slowly it will frequently raised until the U.S. is bankrupt.
20. Card Stacking
Uses deliberate deception (bias) to manipulate an argument.
Speaker or writer lists examples to only support their argument.
Ignores examples that disprove one’s point.
Ex. Obviously the U.S. and Mexico should have a trade agreement since it would lead to lower prices, improve U.S. and Mexican relations, and facilitate cultural exchange.
21. Straw Man Argument
Attempts to water down an opposing argument Committed when a person simply ignores a
person's actual position and substitutes a distorted, exaggerated or misrepresented version of that position.
Ex. Speaker A. We should give children Pop Tarts after school everyday.
Speaker B. But that is not healthy for our kids!
Speaker A. Do you want our children to starve to death?
I ate five candy bars and got an A on my test. I should eat five candy bars before every test because I will get an A if I do it.
Post Hoc
The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families?
Red Herring/ Appeal to pity
He is a misogynist; thus he hates women.
Circular argumentation
People who don't support the proposed state minimum wage increase hate the poor; therefore they are idiots.
Ad hominem/ Oversimplification
If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers.
Slippery Slope
I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick.
Post Hoc
We can either stop using cars or destroy the earth.
Either/or Fallacy
Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.
Ad Hominem
Everyone else is going out and getting drunk, so you should too.
Bandwagon
Works Cited
"Logical Fallacies." http://owl.english.purdue.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012.
Wheeler, L. Kip. "Logical Fallacies Handlist." Web.cn.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2012