Ad Fontem/Emotion Examples
My pastor said they think buttered noodles are the healthiest form of carbohydrates. I'm going to start eating that for my new diet.
Illegitimate Authority
I can't believe they won't let us wear our jackets in school. Every room is, like, 50 degrees. They clearly just want us to freeze and get sick.
Straw Man
There is nothing wrong with polygamy; it was practiced by many ancient civilizations. If it was good enough back then, it's fine now.
Chronological Snobbery
This fallacy occurs when you attempt to make the listener worried about a potentially bad outcome of disagreeing.
Appeal to Fear
Provide a definition of Irrelevant Thesis.
An argument that distracts by providing evidence for an off-topic conclusion, or by answering a different question than what was asked.
Mrs. Russell, you can't give me another tardy! If I get another one, I'll get a detention.
Appeal to Pity
Our lunch program is a total failure. We can't even order Chik-fil-A every day.
Irrelevant Goals
"But you can't prove it isn't! I still think it's haunted."
Appeal to Ignorance
This fallacy occurs when you rely on an unreliable outside source to prove your point.
Illegitimate Authority
Provide a definition of Tu Quoque.
Suggesting that an opponent's argument is wrong because they have demonstrated some inconsistency in their behavior or beliefs.
"This car has excellent gas mileage and is tested as one of the most reliable on the market."
"Of course you'd say that, you're the salesman. You just want to make money off of me."
Ad Hominem Circumstantial.
Testing has been inconclusive on the effects of drinking glue. I'm sure it's fine.
Appeal to Ignorance
Studying Logic that was taught by Socrates is silly. I mean, how could a man that ugly know anything about thinking well?
Ad Hominem Abusive
This fallacy occurs when you attack an idea for failing to achieve a task it was never meant to do.
Irrelevant Goals
Provide a definition of Appeal to Pity
An argument that distracts by making the listenerfeel sorry for the speaker, with no other supporting evidence.
Do you stay awake worrying about whether your home is secure? Get a good night's rest with ADT security. Your family will be untouchable.
Appeal to Fear
Of course, Mr. Donworth is the best history teacher. History is my favorite subject, and I really like getting books on history from the library.
Irrelevant Thesis
Mark McGwire just retired from the St. Louis Cardinals. He's such a nice guy, and he gives a lot of money to all sorts of charities. Clearly, he will end up in the Hall of Fame.
Irrelevant Thesis
This fallacy occurs when you attack an idea because of where it came from.
Genetic Fallacy
Provide a definition of Straw Man
An argument that exaggerates or misrepresents an opponent's argument in order to make it easier to defeat.
What do you mean I shouldn't copy Thomas' homework? Shut up, you copy from Bianca all the time.
Tu Quoque
You want us to have a better environmental plan? Wow, so we should just shut down every factory and lose a ton of jobs for the sake of a few trees?
Straw Man
You're not going to wear a wedding ring, are you? Don't you know that the wedding ring originally symbolized ankle chains worn by women to prevent them from running away from their husbands? What a terrible idea.
Genetic Fallacy
This fallacy occurs when you argue that something should be done because it is commonly believed or it's normal.
Mob Appeal (Ad Populum)
Provide a definition of Snob Appeal.
Arguing in favor of something simply because it is special, unique, or will provide some status for the listener.