Logical Fallacies
Definition A logical fallacy is a mistake in reasoning. Think about it: the word fallacy means mistake and the word logic deals with thinking or reasoning. Therefore, logical fallacies are faulty or invalid arguments.
The following is a list of common logical fallacies: |
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Ad Hominem Attacking the individual instead of the argument.
Examples:
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Appeal to Force
Telling the hearer that something bad will happen to him if he does not accept the argument.
Examples:
Examples:
- If you don’t want to get beaten up, you will agree with what I say.
- Convert or die.
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Appeal to PityUrging the hearer to accept the argument based upon an appeal to emotions, sympathy, etc.
Examples:
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Appeal to the Popular
Urging the hearer to accept a position because the majority of people hold to it.
Examples:
Examples:
- The majority of people like soda. Therefore, soda is good.
- Everyone else is doing it. Why shouldn’t you?
Appeal to TraditionTrying to get someone to accept something because it has been done or believed for a long time.
Examples:
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Cause and Effect
Assuming that the effect is related to a cause because the events occur together.
Examples:
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Fallacy of Division
Assuming that what is true of the whole is true for the parts.
Examples:
Examples:
- Your family is weird. That means you are weird, too.
- That car is blue. Therefore, its engine is blue
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Poisoning the WellPresenting negative information about a person before he/she speaks so as to discredit the person’s argument.
Examples:
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Red Herring
Introducing a topic not related to the subject at hand.
Examples:
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Application
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