Basic Human Limitation
Air traffic controllers often have difficulty making good judgments after long hours on duty.
An argument that assumes an adverse chain of events will occur, but offers no proof
Slippery Slope Fallacy
Creating a prejudicial atmosphere against the opposition, making it difficult for the opponent to be received fairly.
Poisoning the Well
Language that is clear and accurate but misleading because it suggests something false.
False Implications
These result from our own unique life experiences and worldview,
Personal Biases & Prejudices
Making illogical analogies to support the validity of a particular claim.
False Analogies
Advertisements that appeal to one's vanity, pity, guilt, fear or desire for pleasure.
Emotional Appeals
Language that implies that something is superior but retreats from the view
Meaningless Comparison
When one tends to notice and look for what confirms one’s beliefs, and to ignore, not look for, or undervalue the relevance of what contradicts one’s beliefs.
Confirmation Bias & Selective Thinking
Arguing something is true because “it works,” even though the causality between this something and the outcome are not demonstrated.
Pragmatic Fallacy
Criticizing the person making an argument, not the argument itself.
Ad hominem Fallacy
A word or expression that can be understood in more than one way.
Ambiguity
Being unaware that our memories are often “manufactured” to fill in the gaps in our recollection,
False Memories & Confabulation
Making a claim that printer A makes better copies that printer B, while ignoring the important fact that only printer B can also fax, copy, scan.
Irrelevant Comparisons
"You are either with us or with the terrorist!"
Fallacy of False Dilemma
Referring to a homeless person as "a non-goal oriented member of society."
Doublespeak Jargon
Relying on vivid anecdotes of others to substantiate one’s own beliefs
Testimonial Evidence
Irrationally believing that how one wears their hat while watching a football game can influence the score.
Apophenia & Superstition
Making jokes about one's own character in order to disarm critics & evade having to defend policy.
Evading the issue, Fred Herring
"Common sense tells you..."