Common Logical Fallacies: Examples

straw man fallacy

Coco says that she thinks her friends should not be so rude to the new girl. Jenna says that she cannot believe that Coco is choosing to be better friends with the new girl than the girls who have always known her.

slippery slope fallacy

Don't let your children stay up till midnight on New Year's Eve. Before you know it, they'll be demanding to stay up till midnight every night.

slippery slope fallacy

Don't let your friend borrow $100. Next, she's going to be borrowing money from you every day.

bandwagon fallacy

Eating meat can't be wrong. After all, a majority of people in the United States eat meat.

circular reasoning

Three key pieces of evidence prove that my client is innocent. First, she has not done anything wrong. Second, she is not guilty. And third, she is free from all criminal behaviors, dispositions, or inclinations.

hasty generalization

Two of my best friends are really introverted, shy people, and they both have cats. That leads to me believe that most cat lovers are really shy.

hasty generalization

When Jason arrived at Heathrow Airport, a British man helped him retrieve his luggage from baggage claim. British people are all so nice!

straw man fallacy

You may be impressed by Candidate A.'s work with low-income communities, but the fact remains that he graduated from an elite university. He couldn't possibly empathize with low-income constituents.

bandwagon fallacy

According to the university brochure, the majors with the most students are Economics and Computer Science. Therefore, you should declare one of these majors if you want to have a successful career.

straw man fallacy

Biology teacher begins teaching evolution by stating that all things evolve. Student says she just can't accept that humans came from bugs.

straw man fallacy

Candidate A. says that the nation should not add to the defense budget. Candidate B. says that he cannot believe that Candidate A. wants to leave the nation defenseless.

circular reasoning

Candidate B. isn't lying when she says she cares about her constituents—she wouldn't lie to people she cares about.

guilt by association

Bruno thinks that things would be better in Taiwan if wealth were shared. If those who had more than enough were forced to share with those who did not have enough, things would be more fair and equal. Bruno thinks the government should take over businesses and industry to make things more fair. Then he learns that communist leaders, like Stalin and the current regime in China support shared wealth and state-owned industry. Bruno decides he doesn't really believe that anymore.

guilt by association

Coco is thinking about becoming a vegetarian. Then she learns that many mass murderers were also vegetarians. So, she keeps eating meat.

false dichotomy

Don't talk to me about the legacy of Napoleon! If you're not a professional historian, then there's no way you know anything about it.

false dichotomy

I thought you cared about animals, but I didn't see you at the fundraiser for orphaned puppies.

slippery slope fallacy

If the government is allowed to start blocking websites, then soon they'll start banning books, and all we'll have to read is propaganda.

hasty generalization

Kevin's grandparents do not know how to use a computer. Kevin thinks that all older people must be computer illiterate.

hasty generalization

Lala got chased by a dog. She decides that all dogs are mean.

guilt by association

Mr. Alexander taught your older brother, who was the class clown. He decides to be strict with you from the very first day of class because he thinks you will be a clown, too.

hasty generalization

On the first day of high school, Biff runs into an IEP student who calls him a mean name and tells him to move out of her way. Biff decides all IEP students are snobs.

ad hominem

She may be a qualified candidate, but she has an annoying voice, so I won't vote for her.

false dichotomy

You are for us, or you are against us.

false dichotomy

You either like kids or you don't.

false dichotomy

You either support Candidate A. for president or you don't believe in women's rights.

appeal to nature

an argument that assumes the natural choice is always the best choice

appeal to nature

Animals don't shampoo their fur, so it can't be good for you to shampoo your hair.

ad hominem

Before I refute my opponent's argument, I would like to draw attention to the fact that he is sweating and clearly does not have much experience on the debate team.

false dichotomy

Ben is definitely voting for the KMT in the next election because he said there was no way he was voting for the DPP.

circular reasoning

Companies that make huge profits must be exploiting their customers because the only way a company could make large profits is by taking advantage of their customers.

false causation

Depression causes sickness. People who are suffering from cancer are also often depressed. So, depression can cause illness.

slippery slope fallacy

Don't feed the dog any scraps. Next thing you know, you'll be setting a place for the dog at the dinner table.

false causation

Every major league baseball player hits with a wooden bat. So, to improve my hitting, I've switched from an aluminum bat to a wooden one.

circular reasoning

Free speech is good not just for the individual, but for all of society. After all, it's in the interest of the community that everyone should be at liberty to express his or her beliefs.

false dichotomy

I don't give tests to my students because good students will study the material regardless, and bad students won't study the material even for a test.

false dichotomy

I don't think I would do well in AP Literature—people are good at math, or they're good at literature, and I'm a math person.

appeal to nature

I get my drinking water from a well in my backyard. I don't trust tap water, because it has been treated with chemicals.

false dichotomy

I had to speak out against the proposed noise pollution ordinance. Citizens would obviously prefer a thriving city over a silent, stagnant one.

slippery slope fallacy

If you give them an inch, they will take a mile.

false causation

In January, we opened a new prison in town. By May, criminal activity had dropped. So, the new prison must have been the reason for the drop in crime.

false causation

In September, we removed the vending machines on our school's campus. By April, we saw an increase in the tenth grade boys' math scores on state tests. Clearly, there's a link.

appeal to nature

In prehistoric times, humans carried their babies close to them in slings and swaddles. Therefore, a stroller is unlikely to foster the same parent-child bond.

appeal to nature

In the wild, it's survival of the fittest. Therefore, we should promote fierce competition in school to separate the strong students from the weak.

hasty generalization

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse all passed away at the age of twenty-seven. For some reason, being twenty-seven seems to be dangerous for musicians.

straw man fallacy

Kiki is the class secretary. She says that she thinks that the class should do more service projects. Skippy says he can't believe that Kiki doesn't support the annual school play.

false causation

Skippy liked playing with army toys when he was a child. Skippy joined the army as an adult. Playing with army toys makes you want to join the army

straw man fallacy

Student tells his professor that he thinks some of Donald Trump's positions have merit. Professor says he can't believe that the student believes in support racism.

guilt by association

The legislator went to the NTU School of Business, and so did that banker who was just accused of fraud. That proves my hunch that the legislator is dishonest.

slippery slope fallacy

The parents want to ban Harry Potter from the school library. Next, they are going to want to ban hundreds of classics, starting with things like Charlotte's Web because it's violent!

bandwagon fallacy

This overview of world history is the number one seller on the topic. It must be the most accurate and comprehensive book on the subject.

hasty generalization

Three out of four school teachers prefer Bright Marks Chalk, but I only asked four teachers total.

bandwagon fallacy

Tons of people still believe the Earth is flat! Maybe there's something to their argument?

slippery slope fallacy

We cannot have shorter prison sentences, even for low-level criminals. It would only be a matter of time before all prison sentences were reduced and violent offenders were roaming the streets!

false dichotomy

We need to raise taxes to improve our public schools. If we don't raise taxes, we are condemning our schools to failure.

false causation

We never had a problem with our doorbell until after you rang it the other afternoon.

false causation

When flowers bloom in the spring, birds also begin to sing. The flowers must cause the birds to sing.

ad hominem

You argue that vegetarianism can have a positive impact on the environment, but why should we believe you? I've seen you eat bacon!

guilt by association

You really shouldn't vote for Mr. Chen. His uncle was a legislator about thirty years ago, and he had a horrible tax policy.

ad hominem

You think Jason should be class president? I just can't see it. He reads romance novels for fun.

hasty generalization

You visit a new country and the first person you meet in the airport is rude. You send a message to a friend back home that everyone in this new country is rude.

hasty generalization

a broad claim based on too few observations

straw man fallacy

a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against

bandwagon fallacy

an argument that assumes the popular choice is always the best choice

false dichotomy

an argument that presents only two choices when more options exist

circular reasoning

an argument that supports a claim with the claim itself

guilt by association

an unfair negative association with another person or group that is intended to discredit someone or something

false causation

the assumption that because two things happened together, one caused the other

guilt by association

Are you playing golf with Nick this weekend? I wouldn't do that if I were you. Nick is dating Coco, and everyone knows that she cheats at golf.

false causation

Lala ignores an email that says she should forward it or she will be unlucky. On the way home that day, she has a flat tire. She wishes she had sent the email.

slippery slope fallacy

Let's not pick up our baby every time he cries. If we give in now, he'll end up controlling every aspect of our household by the time he can talk!

false causation

When I wake up in the morning, the sun comes up. I must be causing the sun to rise.

hasty generalization

When I was in Seattle for a week last January, it didn't rain even once. Seattle's reputation for being rainy is obviously false.

false dichotomy

Child to parent: Either you buy me this new book, or you decide that reading is not important at all.

ad hominem

He may be qualified for the job, but he has tattoos, so I won't hire him.

hasty generalization

A driver with a Taidong license plate cuts you off in traffic. You decide that all Taidong drivers are terrible drivers.

hasty generalization

Alissa has class with a basketball player who is a class clown. He disrupts the class and is failing. Alissa decides all basketball players are not serious students.

false dichotomy

Drink water every day and be healthy, or continue to drink sodas and be unhealthy. Those are the only options.

guilt by association

Jeanie is the class president. She believes that the class should sponsor a dance as a fundraiser. Then she learns that a group of girls that she doesn't like also support the idea of a dance as a fundraiser. So, Jeanie changes her mind and decides that the class should plan a race instead.

false dichotomy

The animal shelter is a place that values animal rights and never euthanizes animals, or the animal shelter is a place that kills innocent animals.

ad hominem

My dentist recommends this toothpaste brand, but I'm reluctant to take the advice of someone with such bad taste. He has truly ugly art on the office walls, and the upholstery in his waiting room is atrocious.

ad hominem

My dentist says we should stop letting little Simon eat so much candy, but what does she know? She's never been a mother.

ad hominem

My doctor tells me that I should eat healthy and exercise, but have you seen how overweight he is?

false causation

My favorite band signed with this huge record label, and then their next album was terrible. Basically, signing with a big label ruined their music.

straw man fallacy

My opponent claims that testing products on animals is cruel. But I, for one, cannot support exposing humans to harmful chemicals!

ad hominem

My opponent criticizes my budget proposal for the city. Nonsense. My opponent recklessly spends his income on expensive suits and fancy cars, and he thinks he can question my budget proposal?

slippery slope fallacy

No! Don't eat that piece of chocolate. Today, it's one piece of chocolate, but tomorrow, you've gained 10 kilograms!

guilt by association

Nuclear weapons are a threat to the stability and safety of the world. Like nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants rely on fission. Therefore, nuclear power plants are also a threat to the stability and safety of the world.

false causation

Our classroom smells funny. The teacher is always in the classroom. Therefore, The teacher is the reason that the classroom smells funny.

appeal to nature

Our family will never eat genetically modified food. It's an abomination created by arrogant human tinkering.

appeal to nature

Our mission is to provide customers with the best snacks on the market. That's why we only use real ingredients that you can pronounce.

circular reasoning

Our study looked at people who were successful, as defined by their level of income. Our findings show that successful people consistently make more money than unsuccessful people.

appeal to nature

Our teeth are meant for eating meat. Our incisors and canines evolved to tear and rip flesh. Therefore, it must be unhealthy for humans to give up meat.

false causation

Most students who take the school's Advanced Computer Science class go on to major in computer science. Clearly, the course must be the reason why students major in computer science.

hasty generalization

Mr. Alexander's class is so boring! Why are all literature classes so dull?

bandwagon fallacy

This news show is the most widely watched in the country, so I know it's also the most trustworthy.

bandwagon fallacy

How could the Harry Potter movies not have won even one Academy Award? It's one of the most popular franchises of all time!

circular reasoning

I believe everyone has his or her own idea of what's beautiful in the world. After all, it's the individual who determines what's attractive according to his or her own opinion.

false causation

I used to enjoy eating at this restaurant, but ever since they hired that new hostess, the food is not nearly so good.

guilt by association

I used to love this TV show, but then I found out that Joel likes it, too. So I changed my opinion—if someone like Joel likes a show, it can't be as good as I thought!

hasty generalization

I've only read a couple pages of this book, and I've already found a typo. There's no way I'm reading the rest of this garbage.

slippery slope fallacy

If I let you miss this deadline, everyone else will start asking for the same treatment. Deadlines will be meaningless.

slippery slope fallacy

If we vote that it's okay for them to raise the tuition at universities, then they will raise it by millions of dollars every single year and professors will double their salaries.

false causation

Many people who are involved in community service also do well in college. So, volunteering for community services causes you to have better grades in college.

false causation

Many people who drink coffee are also thin. Therefore, coffee causes one to lose weight.

straw man fallacy

Mayor Ko wants to create more bicycle lanes in Taipei. However, many citizens of Taipei live far from work. It would not be realistic to force us to give up our cars and bike everywhere.

straw man fallacy

Ms. Smith has suggested that our schools let students take statistics instead of algebra to graduate. Frankly, it is puzzling to me that she thinks algebra is a useless subject.

false causation

Skippy spills coffee on his suit. That same day, his boss fires him. Terry thinks he was fired because of the coffee on his suit.

straw man fallacy

Some people claim that William Shakespeare could have learned to write plays without formal schooling. I disagree. No one is born writing plays like that.

straw man fallacy

Student tells his professor that he thinks some of Hillary Clinton's positions have merit. Professor says he can't believe that the student supports giving access to classified documents to foreign countries.

slippery slope fallacy

Sure, you were only two minutes late for work today—but next week it will be ten minutes, and eventually half an hour. That's not acceptable.

straw man fallacy

That advice columnist argues that people should establish their careers before they get married. It really disappoints me that he would suggest to his readers that money is more important than love.

hasty generalization

That teenager just ran a stop sign! That settles it: teenagers are bad drivers.

false causation

The Boston Red Sox failed to win the World Series for eighty-six years after they traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Fans believed this to be the "Curse of the Bambino," or punishment for selling "The Bambino" to another team.

straw man fallacy

The mayor argued that we need to reduce funding for the animal shelter in order to balance the budget. Don't vote for someone who doesn't think the government should care about animals.

ad hominem

an attack against the person making the argument, rather than the argument itself

slippery slope fallacy

the false assumption that a small first step will necessarily lead to extreme consequences