Fallacies 1
You are so stupid, your answer couldn't possibly be right.
What is ad hominem?
That university was founded by a bunch of racists two hundred years ago - it is a racist university.
What is genetic fallacy?
This new medicine is only made from whole ingredient grown straight from the earth in organic gardens. It will be much more effective than anything grown in a lab!
What is appeal to nature?
Person One: “We shouldn’t steal this. Once a few people start stealing, the social order starts detereorating, and society would collapse.”
Person Two: “Wow, really, a slippery slope argument? What a flawed argument. I don't know now - stealing this is probably fine!”
What is the fallacy fallacy?
You think we should kill everyone who is taller than 6'3". I think we shouldn't do that. Perhaps a compromise is the answer - only kill a few tall people?
What is middle ground fallacy?
Avatar broke a lot of box office records. It must be an amazing film!
What is ad populum/bandwagon?
Starbucks wrote “Happy Holidays” on their cups instead of “Merry Christmas”? Those godless wokesters are waging a war on Christmas!
What is Straw Man?
My roommate said her Spanish class was hard. My class is hard too. Spanish must be a really difficult subject.
What is hasty generalization?
Caldwell Hall is in bad shape. Either we tear it down or threaten student lives.
What is false dilemma/either-or?
Person 1: "I don't feel like eating pizza tonight."
Person 2: "WHY DO YOU HATE DELICIOUS FOOD!!!"
What is Straw Man?
Interviewer: "What will you do fix rising homelessness in major cities?"
Candidate: "Thank you, great question. Rising homelessness is a serious problem, a very serious problem, but you know what else is a problem? Illegal immigration. Our cities are overrun with..."
What is a red herring?
You drive a Tesla? What, do you also goosestep around Berlin?
What is moral equivalence?
Person 1: "Horses can fly."
Person 2: "What? No, they can't!"
Person 1: "Oh yeah?! Have you seen every horse? Where's your evidence!?"
What is burden of proof?
You say I shouldn't get drunk at the party, Mom, but you get drunk all the time with your friends!
What is tu quoque?
My uncle never exercised and never ate a vegetable in his life, and he lived to 93 years old. I don't think exercise and diet are very important for health.
What is anecdotal?
I got the flu vaccine and then I got the flu. The shot must have made me sick!
What is post hoc (ergo proper hoc) or false cause?
"Animal experimentation reduces our respect for life. If we have animal experimentation in our culture, we will become comfortable with experimentation with humans, and soon we will be plucking people off of the street and cutting them open!"
What is slippery slope?
Person 1: "You didn't take out the trash!"
Person 2: "Well, you didn't do the dishes!"
What is tu quoque?
Person 1: "Are you vaccinated?"
Person 2: "I'm immunized."
What is ambiguity?
Prosecutor to defendant: "So how did you feel when you killed your wife?"
What is begging the question?
Listen, I've been to a few European countries where everyone smokes, and the majority of people were pretty healthy, so I think smoking isn't really that bad for you.
What is hasty generalization?
This Hyundai has a faulty transmission. Hyundais just use cheap parts for the whole vehicle.
What is fallacy of composition/division?
Sure, you may have seen the movies and TV shows, but if you haven't read every comic, you aren't really a Marvel fan.
What is no true scotsman?
Euthanizing people who are suffering and have no chance of recovery is the morally correct thing to do because it is eases their suffering.
What is begging the question/claim?