Logical fallacies
ad populum fallacy
An appeal that speaks to group-approved attitudes or beliefs.
An example of either or
Child to parent: Either you buy me this new book, or you decide that reading is not important at all.
hasty generalization fallacy
Conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.
An example of non sequitur
Good people don't lie. You told a lie. You are not a good person.
An example of slippery slope
If we allow children to choose the movie this time, they are going to expect to be able to choose the school they go to or the doctors they visit.
An example of ad populum
The crowds at my Rallies are far bigger than they have ever been before, including the 2016 election. Never an empty seat in these large venues, many thousands of people watching screens outside.
An example of either or
We can either stop using cars, or destroy the earth
either/or fallacy
oversimplifying an issue as offering only two choices
non sequitur fallacy
A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow the previous argument or statement.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy
A conclusion that assumes if "A" occured after "B" then "B" must have caused "A"
An example of Hasty Generalization
A driver with a New York License plate cuts you off in traffic. You decide that all New York drivers are terrible drivers.
ad hominem fallacy
An attack on the character of the person rather than their opinions or arguments.
false analogy fallacy
Argument based on misleading, superficial, or implausible comparisons.
An example of straw man
Biology teacher begins teaching evolution by stating all things evolve. Students says she just can't accept that humans came from bugs.
An example of ad populum
Do you not consider yourself already refuted, Socrates, when you put forward views that nobody would accept? Why, ask anyone present!
An example of Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Everytime that rooster crows, the sun comes up. That rooster must be very powerful and important!
An example of ad hominem
He's not a great athlete; he's a fraud, a cheat, and a liar. That's why not everybody is 'happy for Lance.'
An example of ad hominem
How can you argue your case for vegetarianism when you are enjoying that steak?
An example of circular argument
I deserve to have a later curfew, so you should let me stay out until 10pm!
An example of Slippery Slope
If you allow the students to redo this test, they are going to want to redo every assignment for the rest of the year.
An example of begging the claim
Killing people is wrong, so the death penalty is wrong.
An example of hasty generalization
On the first day of high school, Mark runs into a cheerleader who calls him a name and tells him to move out of her way. Mark decides all cheerleaders are snobs.
An example of post hoc ergo propter hoc
One month before I met my significant one I saw a shooting star, and I wished that I would find my soulmate. The legend is really true!
An example of false analogy
People who cannot go without their coffee every morning are no better than alcoholics.
Circular argument fallacy
Restates the argument rather than actually proving it.
An example of begging the claim
Smoking cigarettes can kill you because cigarettes are deadly.
An example of straw man
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.
An example of non sequitur
The bread was left out on the counter. Dad was the last person in the kitchen. Dad is the only one who could have left the bread on the counter.
Begging the Claim Fallacy
The conclusion that the writer should prove is validated within the claim.
An example of red herring
The mother of a young child tells him to go to bed, and he begins to ask questions, say that he is hungry, or say that he needs to go to the bathroom-all to avoid bed and distract mom.
straw man fallacy
When someone argues that a person holds a view that is actually not what the other person believes. Instead it is a distorted version of what the person believes.
An example of red herring
When your mom gets your phone bill and you have gone over the limit, you begin talking to her about how hard your math class is and how well you did on a test today.
An example of false analogy
Women will be attracted to you if you wear Axe cologne or use Axe bath wash.
An example of circular argument
You have to save enough money to pay your bills each month because bills have to be paid.
red herring fallacy
a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them
Slippery slope fallacy
a logical fallacy that assumes once an action begins it will lead, undeterred, to an eventual and inevitable conclusion