Logical Fallacies- AP Review Quiz #4

Appeal to Ignorance

A fallacy based on the assumption that whatever has not been proven false must be true.

post hoc ergo propter hoc

A fallacy claiming that just because something happened before, it will happen again

Bandwagon Appeal

Consists of pressure to agree based on population and pressure to be in the majority.

Faulty Causality

Setting up a cause and effect relationship when it does not exist.

Hasty Generalization

This is a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence. In other words, you are rushing to a conclusion before you have all the relevant facts.

Slippery Slope

This is a conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, then eventually through a series of small steps, through B, C,..., X, Y, Z will happen, too, basically equating A and Z. So, if we don't want Z to occur, A must not be allowed to occur either.

Either-or reasoning

This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices.

Red Herring

This is a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them.

Ad hominem

This is an attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or arguments.

Circular Argument

This restates the argument rather than actually proving it.

Oversimplification

When a writer obscures or denies the complexity of the issues in an argument

Faulty analogy

When two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept a claim of connection between them when it is illogical.

Begging the question

a circular argument in which the conclusion is included in the premise. often arises in situations where people have an assumption that is very ingrained, and therefore taken in their minds as a given.

Non sequitor

an inference that does not follow from the facts as stated

False authority

the authority is not an expert, their colleagues disagree, or the reference to the authority is out of context of the situation