Fallacy Definitions (Avoiding the Question)
A fallacy that occurs when someone introduces an irrelevant point into an argument. Someone may think (or may want us to think) it proves his side, but it really doesn't.
What is a red herring?
When someone asks two questions, but one is hidden behind the other.
What is a loaded question?
“It’s hard to take your claims seriously because you spend your days playing video games.”
What is ad hominem?
Senator Grubelstormer assures the town that if they reduce education spending this year, literacy in their region will plummet.
What is slippery slope?
Attacking an opponent's character or his motives for believing something instead of disproving his argument.
What is ad hominem?
Changing the meaning of a word in the middle of an argument, without acknowledging the change.
What is equivocation?
"Jesus says getting angry at your little brother is unlawful. I'm calling the cops right now."
What is equivocation?
Lobbyist: "The policy change is a huge step forward (500 out of 500 voted yes, after all!)."
What is appeal to the people (ad populum)?
A fallacy that occurs when someone uses a double standard or argues for an unjustified exception.
What is special pleading?
This fallacy assumes that if we take one step, nothing will stop us from taking a series of steps because each step is the same.
What is slippery slope?
Parent: "Don't throw your pizza at your brother."
12-year-old: "But you tossed it around multiple times before you baked it!"
What is tu quoque?
"Can you live with yourself at night knowing that your political party jeopardizes the future of all young business owners? Please answer yes or no."
Dismissing someone's viewpoint on an issue because he himself is inconsistent in that very thing.
What is tu quoque?
An argument which says "P is true because Q is true, and Q is true because P is true."
What is circular reasoning?
"Of course Thomas Jefferson's ideas on separation of church and state are wrong. He was one of the biggest slave-owners in Virginia."
What is the genetic fallacy?
"America is the best place to live, because it's better than any other country."
What is circular reasoning?
Condemning an argument because of where it began, how it began, or who began it.
When someone says that what is true of something as a whole must also be true of each of its parts.
What is whole-to-part?
Levite: "I can't help the injured Samaritan by the side of the road because if he's dead, I'll be unclean for my one trip to the Temple!"
What is special pleading?
"All vegans are opposed to animal captivity, including pet ownership."
What is the straw man fallacy?