Fallacies

Argumentum ad Hominem

"Argument against Man". Attacks the speaker, not his reasoning.

Reductio ad Absurdum

Carries an argument to its logical end, without considering whether it is an inevitable or probable results. Also called "slippery slope"

The Lure of the New

The idea that we should do or buy something merely because it is "just released" or "improved".

Appeals to Tradition

Infer that because something has been done a certain way in the past, it should be done the same way in the future.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

An attempt to recover invested time, money, and other resources by spending still more time, money or other resources.

Argumentum ad Baculum

Argument to club. Arguer uses threats or fear to bolser his position.

Argumentum ad Populum

Argument to the people. Emotional appeal to popular beliefs, values, or wants. Just because many or all people believe something does not mean it is true

Non Sequitur

Conclusion that does not follow from the facts or premises one sets out. Speaker is missing the point or coming to an irrelevant conclusion.

Gambler's Fallacy

Mistaken belief that independent prior outcomes affect your future outcomes.

Appeals to Pity

Or Compassion, generates support for a proposition by focusing on a victim's predicament. (Also Non Sequitur)

Argument from Authority

Rely on the quality of an expert or person in a position of authority, not the quality of the expert's or authority's argument.

False Cause

Results from observing two events and concluding that there is a causal link between them when there is no such link.

False Analogies

Something that wrongly argues that since something is like something else in one or more ways, it is also like it in other respect.

Bandwagon Fallacy

States that we should or should not do something merely because one or more other people or firms do or do not do it.

Begging the Question

Using circular reasoning, when the arguer takes for granted or assumes the thing that she is setting out to prove. Identified by looking for arguments that merely restate what the speaker or questioner has already stated, but in different words.