Fallacy Definitions
The attempt to manipulate an emotional response in place of a valid or compelling argument
appeal to emotion
Person A: “We should have stricter regulations on pollution to protect the environment.”
Person B: “So you want to shut down all factories and make everyone lose their jobs?”
Strawman
The medicine man rolled into town on his bandwagon offering various natural remedies, such as very special plain water. He said that it was only natural that people should be wary of 'artificial' medicines such as antibiotics.
Appeal to nature.
claims one small step will lead to a chain of extreme consequences.
Slippery Slope
Real men don’t cry.
Fallacy
You attacked your opponent's character or personal traits in an attempt to undermine their argument
Ad hominem
Person A: “This new diet must be healthy — my favorite actor says it works great!”
Appeal to Authority
Daniel was a precocious child and had a liking for logic. He reasoned that atoms are invisible, and that he was made of atoms and therefore invisible too. Unfortunately, despite his thinky skills, he lost the game of hide and go seek.
Composition/division
uses vague or unclear language that can be interpreted in multiple ways
Ambiguity
Vegetarians don't eat meat
Fact
Presentation of two alternative states as the only possibilities, when in fact more possibilities exist
Black-or-white
Person A: “The roulette wheel has landed on red five times in a row — black has to come up next!”
The Gamblers Fallacy
You only believe in capitalism because you were raised in America.
Genetic
assumes the truth must lie between two opposing positions.
Middle ground
Quantum physics is so weird. There’s no way particles can be in two places at once.
Fallacy
Avoiding having to engage with criticism by turning it back on the accuser- answering criticism with criticism
Tu Quoque
Person A: “Everyone should follow the rules.”
Person B: “Except me — I was tired, so it doesn’t count.”
Special Pleading
Ghosts are real. You can’t prove they don’t exist.
Burden of Proof
assumes something is true or good just because many people believe or do it.
Bandwagon
Lying is wrong because it’s bad to lie.
Fallacy
Presuming that because a claim has been poorly argued, or a fallacy has been made, that the claim itself must be wrong
The Fallacy Fallacy
Person A: “Have you stopped lying to your parents?”
Loaded Question
Every time I wash my car, it rains the next day. Washing my car must cause rain.
False Cause
uses personal stories or isolated examples instead of reliable evidence.
Anecdotal
Correlation doesn’t imply causation — but causation always implies correlation.
Fact