Fallacy quiz with definition & examples

Everybody agrees that we need stronger drunk-driving laws.

Overstatement This statement asserts unanimous and unqualified agreement about drunk-driving laws, and thus presents an OVERSTATEMENT.

Don't join those crazy liberals in support of the American Civil Liberties Union.

ad hominem Because it diverts attention from the real issues by using personal attacks and inflammatory remarks, this statement presents an AD HOMINEM argument.

I wouldn't vote for him; many of his programs are basically socialist.

ad populum Arousing the audience's emotions by invoking presumed shared "anti-socialist" beliefs, this argument is a good example of an AD POPULUM approach.

Real Americans understand that free-trade agreements are evil. Let your representatives know that we want American goods protected.

ad populum Arousing the audience's emotions by invoking presumed shared values and beliefs, this argument is a good example of an AD POPULUM approach.

"In this case, as in Perez and Loving, a statute deprives individuals of access to an institution of fundamental legal, personal, and social significance -- the institution of marriage -- because of a single trait: skin color in Perez and Loving, sexual orientation here. As it did in Perez and Loving, history must yield to a more fully developed understanding of the invidious quality of the discrimination" (Justice Marshall, Goodridge v. Massachusetts, 2003).

analogy Because this argument bases its conclusion on a comparison, it advances its logic through the process of ANALOGY.

Professors should chill out; everybody cheats on exams from time to time.

bandwagon Grounding its conclusions on the opinions and actions of the majority, this argument adopts a BANDWAGON approach.

Eight out of ten headache sufferers use Bayer to relieve headache pain. It will work for you, too.

bandwagon Grounding its conclusions on the opinions of the majority, this argument adopts a BANDWAGON approach.

The fact is that bilingual education is a mistake because it encourages students to use only their native language, and that gives them an advantage over other students.

begging the question Because this statement assumes an academic advantage without providing evidence to support it, the argument exemplifies BEGGING THE QUESTION.

Since so many people obviously cheat the welfare system, it should be abolished.

begging the question Because this statement assumes significant flaws in the welfare system without providing evidence to support it, the argument exemplifies BEGGING THE QUESTION.

"DOMA violates the guarantee of equal protection, as applied to the Federal Government through the Fifth Amendment. The Attorney General informed Congress that 'the President has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a heightened standard of scrutiny heightened'" (Justice Kennedy, Windsor v. United States, 2013).

deduction Because this argument draws its conclusion from two assertions, a broader principle and a specific inference, it advances its logic through the process of DEDUCTION.

[The Majority Opinion] is an assertion of judicial supremacy over the people's Representatives in Congress and the Executive. It envisions a Supreme Court standing (or rather enthroned) at the apex of government, empowered to decide all constitutional questions, always and everywhere 'primary' in its role. This image of the Court would have been unrecognizable to those who wrote and ratified our national charter" (Justice Scalia, Windsor v. United States, 2013).

deduction Because this argument draws its conclusion from two assertions, a broader principle and a specific inference, it advances its logic through the process of DEDUCTION.

DNA research today is just like the study of nuclear fission. It seems important, but it's just another bomb that will one day explode on us. When will we learn that government must control research?

false analogy Because these two types of research may possess many significant differences, this statement presents a FALSE ANALOGY.

Either we improve the city's street lighting, or we will fail to reduce crime.

false dilemma Asserting only two alternatives, when clearly there are more available, this statement presents a FALSE DILEMMA.

We must reject affirmative action in hiring, or we'll have to settle for incompetent employees.

false dilemma Asserting only two alternatives, when clearly there are more available, this statement presents a FALSE DILEMMA.

The upsurge of crime on Sundays is the result of the reduced rate of church attendance in recent years.

forced hypothesis Ignoring alternative explanations for the increase in crime, this statement presents a FORCED HYPOTHESIS.

You'll enjoy your Volvo; foreign cars rarely break down.

hasty generalization Without sufficient evidence about the quality of foreign cars, this statement presents a HASTY OR FAULTY GENERALIZATION. Unlike an Overstatement, however, HASTY GENERALIZATION contains a qualifier; in this case, the word "rarely" is used to lessen the force of the statement.

"DOMA preserves the intended effects of prior legislation against then-unforeseen changes in circumstance. That is not animus--just stabilizing prudence... simply for supporting an Act that did no more than codify an aspect of marriage that had been unquestioned in our society for most of its existence -- indeed, had been unquestioned in virtually all societies for virtually all of human history" (Justice Scalia, Windsor v. United States, 2013).

induction Because this argument moves from particular to general, from support to assertion, from facts to inferences, it advances its logic through the process of INDUCTION.

"The avowed purpose and practical effect of [DOMA] are to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages made lawful by the unquestioned authority of the States. DOMA's operation in practice confirms this purpose. Among the over 1,000 statutes and numerous federal regulations that DOMA controls are laws pertaining to Social Security, housing, taxes, criminal sanctions, copyright, and veterans' benefits" (Justice Kennedy, Windsor v. United States, 2013).

induction Because this argument moves from particular to general, from support to assertion, from facts to inferences, it advances its logic through the process of INDUCTION.

Gary loves jokes. He would make a great comedian.

non sequitor Because its conclusions are not logically connected to the reasons provided, this statement presents a NON SEQUITOR, which translated means "it does not follow." Just because Gary enjoys hearing jokes or even telling them among friends does not necessarily mean he would be "great" at telling them in front of an audience.

Professor Johnson teaches in the political science department. I'll bet she's another socialist

non sequitor Because its conclusions are not logically connected to the reasons provided, this statement presents a NON SEQUITOR, which translated means "it does not follow." Working in academia does not serve as a reliable predictor of someone's political beliefs or ideology.

The economy is in bad shape because of the Federal Reserve Board. Ever since it expanded the money supply, the stock market has been declining.

post hoc fallacy This statement asserts a cause and effect relationship that has not been proven to be true, thus presenting a POST HOC FALLACY.

She isn't pretty enough to win the contest, and besides, she had her nose "fixed" two years ago.

red herring

Gold's book doesn't deserve a Pulitzer Prize. She has been married four times.

red herring ntroducing a side issue, this argument is a RED HERRING. Gold's personal life should have no bearing on the assessment of her professional work.

Coming to the aid of any country engaged in civil war is a bad idea. Next, we'll be sending American troops, and soon we'll be involved in another Vietnam.

slippery slope Without evidence, this statement assumes that getting involved in another country's civil war will inevitably lead to more extreme and dire consequences, thus presenting a SLIPPERY SLOPE.

We shouldn't listen to Colman McCarthy's argument against liquor ads in college newspapers because he thinks young people are ignorant, and need guidance in everything.

straw man Erroneously attributing viewpoints to the opposing side, signaled by the phrase "he thinks," this argument presents a STRAW MAN.