Definition
Answer: This fallacy occurs when someone introduces irrelevant information to distract from the main issue.
Question: What is a red herring?
“Iron Man” – Black Sabbath
“Can he see or is he blind?”
“Can he walk at all, or if he moves will he fall?”
“Is he alive or dead?”
Fallacy: False Dichotomies, and many of them
Answer: When someone says, "You can't trust Jane's opinion on climate change because she doesn't have a science degree," this is an example of this fallacy.
Question: What is an ad hominem fallacy?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet," where the murderer writes the word "Rache" (meaning "revenge" in German) at the crime scene, leading the reader to believe the killer is German, but this turns out to be a false clue to mislead the investigation.
Red Herring
Answer: This fallacy occurs when an argument attacks the character of a person rather than the issue at hand.
Question: What is an ad hominem attack?
Magic - Rude
Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life?
Say yes, say yes, 'cause I need to know
You say I'll never get your blessin' 'til the day I die
"Tough luck, my friend, but the answer is no"
Why you gotta be so rude?
Don't you know I'm human too?
Slippery Slope
Answer: When someone says, "Just like how we should protect animals, we should also protect people from free speech," this is an example of this fallacy.
Question: What is a faulty analogy?
in George Orwell's "Animal Farm", the pigs, particularly Napoleon, constantly misrepresent the views of the other animals by claiming they want to return to the human farmer's rule, even when the animals are simply expressing concerns about the pigs' leadership,
Strawman
Answer: This fallacy compares two things that aren't sufficiently similar in relevant ways to justify the comparison.
Question: What is a faulty analogy?
Foreigner - Cold as Ice
You're as cold as ice
You're willing to sacrifice our love
You never take advice
Someday you'll pay the price, I know
Faulty Analogy
Answer: If someone meets two rude people from a city and then claims everyone from that city is rude, they are committing this fallacy.
Question: What is a hasty generalization?
Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," where Reverend Parris often presents the idea that if you don't fully support the witch trials, you are essentially siding with the devil, essentially forcing people to choose between obedience to the church or damnation
False Dilemma
Answer: This fallacy occurs when someone misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.
Question: What is a straw man argument?
Free
Free
Answer: If someone argues, "The Bible is true because it says so in the Bible," this is an example of this fallacy.
Question: What is circular reasoning?
In The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan uses this fallacy when he attacks to discredit others. One example occurs when Tom disparages Gatsby, not by addressing his wealth or character directly, but by focusing on Gatsby’s background and origins.
Ad Hominem
Answer: This fallacy happens when the conclusion is restated in the premise, offering no real proof.
Question: What is circular reasoning?
Taylor Swift - Blank Space
“Cause we're young and we're reckless
we'll take this way too far.
It'll leave you breathless,
and leave a nasty scar”
Hasty Generalization
Answer: When someone says, "Either we ban all cars now or the planet is doomed," they are committing this fallacy.
Question: What is a false dilemma?
In 1984, the Party employs this fallacy as part of its propaganda to control the citizens' perceptions of reality. One of the slogans of the Party is:
"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
"Ignorance is strength" is a statement that essentially argues that the more ignorant you are, the stronger you become. It doesn’t provide an argument or explanation; it just repeats the assertion as if it were true.
Circular Reasoning