Fallacy Definitions
A fallacy in which the author attempts to show a causal relationship though the two events may have only happened in succession.
What is a post hoc?
The following is an example of a _________ fallacy: I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick.
What is post hoc?
Example of _____________ fallacy: A parent doesn't let their daughter go to a party. The daughter responds with "Why do you hate me?"
What is the straw man fallacy?
Example of __________ fallacy: Willie wore blue socks to football practice, and he did not drop the ball a single time. Willie decides to wear blue socks to every football practice.
What is post hoc fallacy?
A fallacy in which the author has jumped to a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.
What is a hasty generalization?
A fallacy in which you have an argument that assumes that the premise of the claim is true.
What is begging the question fallacy?
The following is an example of a __________ fallacy: Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.
What is an ad hominem fallacy?
Example of _______ fallacy: The apples on the top of the box look good. The entire box of apples must be good.
What is a hasty generalization?
Example of __________ fallacy: We should have conscription. People don't want to enter the military because they find it an inconvenience. But they should realize that there are more important things than convenience.
What is a straw man fallacy?
A fallacy in which the author predicts events, usually with a catastrophic conclusion.
What is a slippery slope?
A fallacy in which a conclusion does not follow from its premise
What is non-sequitur?
The following is an example of a _________ fallacy: John and Mary both drive pick-up trucks. Since John is a teacher, Mary must also be a teacher.
What is false analogy?
Example of a ____________ fallacy: Fruit is so nutritious because it is packed full of goodness.
Example of __________ fallacy: If the mill were polluting the river then we would see an increase in fish deaths. And fish deaths have increased. Thus, the mill is polluting the river.
What is non sequitur fallacy?
A fallacy in which the author attempts to anticipate the opposition, but fails because the oppositional point addressed is one of the weakest points.
What is a straw man fallacy?
A fallacy in which the author attacks the person make the opposing argument, rather than the argument itself.
What is an ad hominem fallacy?
The following is an example of a ___________ fallacy: The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families?
What is a red herring fallacy?
Example of a ______________ fallacy: A lawyer is presenting her case in court during a murder trial. The lawyer stands up in front of the jury and says, ‘the defendant is guilty of the most terrible crime, he attacked his wife not with a hammer, but with a chainsaw.’
What is red herring fallacy?
Example of ________ fallacy: Polls suggest that the Liberals will form a majority government, so you may as well vote for them.
What is an ad populum/bandwagon fallacy?
A fallacy in which the author attempts to distract the reader from the premise of the argument, often with emotional appeals.
What is a red herring?
A fallacy in which the author attempts to make a logical argument by comparing the topic to a topic more familiar to the audience; however, the two topics are not comparable enough to make the argument effective.
What is a false analogy?
The following is an example of _________ fallacy: If we put limits on the right to bear arms, soon all of our Constitutionally-given rights will be taken away.
What is a slippery slope fallacy?
Example of a ______________ fallacy: A bag is stolen from a classroom. A few students accuse William and Luke of stealing the bag because they are always late for school, even though William and Luke claim they are innocent.
What is ad hominem fallacy?
Example of __________ fallacy: Jason is stressed because he has a calculus test tomorrow and he doesn’t feel prepared. He’s worried that if he doesn’t get an A in calculus, he won’t get the GPA he needs to get into a top school, and then he won’t be able to find a job or earn a living.
What is slippery slope fallacy?
A fallacy in which the author attempts to support the argument by simply repeating it using different words.
What is circular reasoning?