Logical Fallacies

Bandwagon

Definition: In argumentation theory, an argumentum ad populum is a fallacious argument that concludes that a proposition must be true because many or most people believe it, often concisely encapsulated as: "If many believe so, it is so". Example: Jumping off a cliff because everyone else is doing it.

Appeal to Ignorance

Definition: It asserts that a proposition is true because it has not yet been proven false or a proposition is false because it has not yet been proven true. Example: You can't prove that there aren't Martians living in caves under the surface of Mars, so it is reasonable for me to believe there are. No one can actually prove that God exists; therefore God does not exist.

Appeal to Authority

Definition: This fallacy occurs when someone uses the testimony of an authority in order to warrant their conclusion, but the authority appealed to is not an expert in the field in question. Example: For example, if someone said, "Einstein said 'God does not play dice with the universe,' therefore God must exist."

Ad Hominem Attack

Definition: is associated with an attack to the character of the person carrying an argument. Example: "She's raising minimum wage, but isn't even smart enough to run a business."

Red Herring Fallacy

Definition: A red herring is a fallacy argument that distracts from the original topic. Some may refer to this type of argument as a "smoke screen." Red herrings are frequently used in: Mystery, thriller and dramatic novels. Political speeches. Example: Daughter: "I'm so hurt that Todd broke up with me, Mom." Mother: "Just think of all the starving children in Africa, honey. Your problems will seem pretty insignificant then."

Slippery Slope

Definition: A slippery slope argument, in logic, critical thinking, political rhetoric, and caselaw, is often viewed as a logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect. Example: "If you're going to eliminate Apu, or eliminate all the characters that might be offensive, they might end up eliminating the show."

False Dilemma / False Dichotomy

Definition: 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. Essentially, a false dilemma presents a "black and white" kind of thinking when there are actually many shades of gray. Example: You can either get married or be alone for the rest of your life.

Hasty Generalization

Definition: a fallacy in which a conclusion that is reached is not logically justified by sufficient or unbiased evidence. Example: For example, if my brother likes to eat a lot of pizza and French fries, and he is healthy, I can say that pizza and French fries are healthy and don't really make a person fat.

Strawman Argument

Definition: Distorting or misrepresenting someone's argument in order to make it easier to defeat. Example: Person A: The children's winter concert at the school should include non-Christmas songs too. Person B: You won't be happy until Christmas songs are banned from being played on the radio!

Equivocation

Definition: occurs when a key term or phrase in an argument is used in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in one portion of the argument and then another meaning in another portion of the argument. Example: replacing "fired from my job" with "taking early retirement."