Logical Fallacies
Argumentum ad misericordiam
Direct meaning is 'Appeal to Pity' Someone tries to win support for an argument or idea by exploiting his or her opponent's feelings of pity or guilt. e.g. I'm positive that my work will meet your requirements. I really need the job since my grandmother is sick.
Argumentum ad Verecundiam
the fallacy of appealing to the testimony of an authority outside his special field. Anyone can give opinions or advice; the fallacy only occurs when the reason for assenting to the conclusion is based on following the improper authority. e.g. The United States policy toward mainland China was surely mistaken because Shirley McLaine, the well known actress, said, at the time, she had grave misgivings about it.
Dicto Simpliciter
"sweeping generalization"; a stereotype They also occur when one makes a general argument like "exercise is good for everyone".
Argumentum ad baculum
1) An argument where force or the threat of a force is given as a justification for a conclusion a) This form of argument is an 'informal fallacy' as one ends an argument with force or a threat, but that does not mean they are correct. They did not win the argument by putting down the other person. Ex. -"I feel like we have not had enough time to complete our essay" -"Do not argue with me or I'll send you to detention"
Non sequitur
A fallacy in which a conclusion does not follow its premise e.g. If I buy this cell phone, all people will love me.
Guilt by Association
A person rejects a claim simply because it is pointed out that people this person does not like accepts the claim. If person A does not like a claim, then the claim is false. This sort of reasoning is fallacious because for example: You think that 1+1=2. But, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and all believed that 1+1=2. So, you shouldn't believe it.
Slippery slope
A slippery slope argument states that a relatively small first step leads to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect, much like an object given a small push over the edge of a slope sliding all the way to the bottom
Gambler's Fallacy
An event is not more likely just because it has not happened for a long time. E.g. Coin tossing; there's a 50% chance every time
Appeal to tradition
Appeal to Tradition is a fallacy that occurs when it is assumed that something is better or correct simply because it is older, traditional, or "always has been done." E.g. Sure I believe in God. People have believed in God for thousands of years so it seems clear that God must exist. After all, why else would the belief last so long?
Argumentum ad Terrorem
Creating a fear factor in an attempt to earn support for a particular idea e.g. Hitler threatening opposition
Relativist Fallacy
Fallacy is apparent when a person rejects a claim made at them by saying it might be true for others but not for him/her. Jill: "Look at this, Bill. I read that people who do not get enough exercise tend to be unhealthy." Bill: "That may be true for you, but it is not true for me."
Black and White Thinking (false dilemma)
If it isn't X, it must be non-X. Example: If you're not with us, you're against us.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Latin for "after this, therefore because of this" a) Logical fallacy: "since that event followed this one, that event must have been caused by this one" b) Sometimes referred to as "correlation not causation Coming to a conclusion based on the order of events (a) Doesn't take into account factors that ruin the connection between events Ex. "You must be the cause of the problem; we never had problems with the washing machine until you moved in"
get on the bandwagon
Like or do something because everyone else is.
Appeal to Popularity (aka Ad Populum)
Most people think X is true. Therefore, X is true. Example: Everyone I know thinks God is real. Therfore, God must be real.
Poisoning the Well
Providing unfavorable facts, whether they are true or false, about someone or something to undermine an argument Example: Before you meet him, I want you to know that he has been in jail.
Composition
The fallacy of Composition is committed when a conclusion is drawn about a whole group based on features of a few individuals with no justification. Example: Atoms are colorless. Cats are made of atoms, so cats are colorless.
Golden Mean Fallacy
The fallacy of the Golden Mean takes the form of assuming that the most valid conclusion is that which accepts the best compromise between two competing positions. Example: "In our psychology department, half of the faculty believe that a behavioral approach is the only valid approach; the other half believe that the only valid approach is psychodynamic. Obviously the most valid approach must be one that incorporates both behavioral and psychodynamic elements."
Argumentum ad Ignorantiam
The fallacy that a proposition is true simply on the basis that it has not been proved false or that it is false simply because it has not been proved true. e.g. UFOs are real: there's no evidence to counter that belief.
Two Wrongs Make a Right
Two Wrongs Make a Right is a fallacy in which a person "justifies" an action against a person by asserting that the person would do the same thing to him/her · This sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because an action that is wrong is wrong even if another person would also do it.
Begging the Question
a fallacy in which the premises include the claim that the conclusion is true or (directly or indirectly) assume that the conclusion is true. What this suggests that is that you're assuming the conclusion of your statement is true. Your also suggesting that your conclusion is your evidence therefore your evidence is your conclusion.
Ad Numerum
appeal to number the mere fact that a belief is widely-held is not necessarily a guarantee that the belief is correct
Weak Analogy
when the analogy made between two ideas is very weak, meaning the connection between the two ideas is very minor. For example, creating a connection between the abortion of a fetus and the murder of an adult. Of course, there is a big difference between a fetus and an adult, so this is a weak analogy.
