Definitions 1
Attacking the person making the argument instead of addressing the argument itself.
AD HOMINEM (ATTACKING OPPONENT'S CHARACTER)
Claiming something is true because it hasn’t been proven false (or vice versa).
APPEAL TO IGNORANCE
Favoring information that confirms preexisting beliefs while ignoring contrary evidence.
CONFIRMATION BIAS
Drawing a conclusion from insufficient or unrepresentative evidence.
HASTY GENERALIZATION
Assuming that the attention something gets represents how common or important it is.
SPOTLIGHT
Using personal experience or an isolated example instead of sound evidence or statistics.
Mocking or making fun of an argument to make it seem foolish.
APPEAL TO RIDICULE
Using ambiguous language or shifting the meaning of a word in the middle of an argument.
EQUIVOCATION
Assuming that failure to act implies guilt or agreement.
INCRIMINATING INDIFFERENCE
Presenting only evidence that supports your claim while ignoring opposing evidence.
STACKING THE DECK
Claiming something is true because an authority or expert said it, without evaluating the evidence.
APPEAL TO AUTHORITY
Assuming something is true or good because many people believe it or do it.
BANDWAGON
Assuming that because one thing follows another, it was caused by it.
FALSE CAUSE
Drawing a conclusion that doesn’t logically follow from the argument presented.
MISSING THE POINT
Assuming that how an argument is presented (tone, confidence, appearance) determines its truth.
PRESENTATION
Arguing that a belief must be true or false because of the consequences of accepting it.
APPEAL TO CONSEQUENCE
Assuming someone’s argument is wrong and then explaining why they believe it, instead of addressing the argument itself.
BULVERISM
Judging someone’s argument or character based on their associations.
GUILT BY ASSOCIATION
Introducing an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the main issue.
RED HERRING
Assuming emotional understanding or sympathy proves a point logically.
EMPATHY
Dismissing someone’s argument because they don’t follow their own advice.
APPEAL TO HYPOCRISY
When the conclusion is included in the premise; restating the claim instead of proving it.
CIRCULAR REASONING
A conclusion that doesn’t logically follow from its premises.
FALSE SYLLOGISM
Extending an argument to absurd extremes to make it seem invalid.
REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM
Repeating an argument or claim so often that people start believing it must be true.
ARGUMENTUM AD NAUSEAM