Fallacies #1
Material, wide-ranging conclusions are made on the basis of an immaterial, narrow body of evidence. Jumping to conclusions.
Hasty Generalization
The offender distracts from the argument with a seemingly related (but actually unrelated) point.
Red Herring
An assumption of truth on the basis of the majority of people believing it to be true.
"Everyone believes X, so obviously X is true."
The Bandwagon Fallacy
Latin for "to the person" - an attack of the person rather than the argument.
Ad Hominem
The offender ignores the actual argument and replaces it with a flimsy, distorted, easily-refuted argument.
By replacing a strong argument with a weak one, the offender can create the illusion of an easy, swift victory.
Straw Man
During a debate, instead of addressing their opponent's argument, a politician attacks their opponent's appearance and personal life.
Ad Hominem
A teenager insists on buying a particular brand of sneakers because "everyone at school wears them."
The Bandwagon Fallacy:
A politician argues that you're either with us or against us, ignoring the possibility of alternative viewpoints or solutions.
False Dilemma:
After meeting one rude person from a certain country, someone concludes that everyone from that country must be rude.
Hasty Generalization:
A company advertises their product as "all natural," using the term to imply it's healthy, while actually meaning it contains no artificial ingredients.
Equivocation:
Instead of addressing the proposal to improve healthcare, a politician argues against a distorted version, claiming it would bankrupt the country.
Straw Man:
Someone claims they have psychic powers because they once predicted something accurately, ignoring the possibility of coincidence or other explanations.
Begging the Question:
During a discussion about climate change, someone brings up an unrelated topic like animal rights to divert attention away from the main issue.
Red Herring:
"Have you stopped cheating on exams?" This question assumes the person being asked has cheated before, putting them in a defensive position.
Loaded Question:
Someone argues that because their neighbor owns a luxury car, they must be wealthy, ignoring the fact that the neighbor could be in debt.
Non-Sequitur:
A parent scolds their child for smoking cigarettes, but the child points out that the parent used to smoke when they were younger.
Tu Quoque:
A commercial claims that a certain brand of toothpaste is the best because it's recommended by a famous actor, not because of its actual effectiveness.
Appeal to Authority:
The qualifications of the authority figure in the field of question must be considered.
Their support can be a feature - but not a pillar - of the argument.
Appeal to Authority
Despite losing money consistently, a business owner continues to invest in their failing venture because they've already put so much money into it.
Sunk Cost Fallacy:
A politician argues against stricter gun control laws by claiming they will lead to the government confiscating all firearms and imposing martial law.
Slippery Slope:
"I know the book is true because it says so, and I believe what it says because it's true."
Circular Reasoning:
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Therefore, having a bird is better than having two in the bush." Here, "bird" is used in different senses, leading to a flawed conclusion.
Equivocation:
Continuing to repair an old car that constantly breaks down instead of buying a new one because of the money already spent on repairs.
Sunk Cost Fallacy:
"If we allow students to retake one test, they'll start expecting to retake every test, and soon our entire grading system will collapse."
Slippery Slope:
Because a politician used a straw man argument in a debate, their opponent concludes that everything they said must be false, ignoring the possibility that some of their points could be valid.
The Fallacy Fallacy: