A
Introducing an irrelevant point into an argument. Someone may think it proves his side, but it really doesn’t.
What is a Red Herring?
Repeating a message loudly and very often in the hope that it will soon be believed.
What is repetition?
Attacking an opponent's character or his motive for believing something instead of disproving his argument.
What is an Ad Hominem Attack?
Condemning an argument because of where it began,how it began, or who began it.
What is the Genetic Fallacy?
When someone tries to make us do something only because we pity him.
What is appeal to pity?
Appealing to the authority of someone who has no special knowledge in that area he is discussing.
What is Faulty Appeal to Authority?
Claiming one’s view-point is correct just because many other people agree with it.
What is Appeal to the People?
Changing or exaggerating an opponent's position to make it easier to refute.
What is a Straw Man fallacy?
Changing the meaning of a word in the middle of an argument.
What is Equivacation?
When nothing more than a time limit is given as a reason for you to do what someone wants.
What is exigency?
Asking one question which assumes the answer to a second question.
What is a Loaded Question?
This Propaganda technique pressures us to do something just because many other people like us are doing it.
What is bandwagon?
Dismissing another person’s viewpoint on an issue because the speaker is inconsistent in that very thing.
What is Tu Quoque?
Attempting to prove a conclusion by simply restating it. Someone says “P is true because Q is true, and Q is true because P is true.”
What is Circular Reasoning?
You disagree with the idea of women in the military just because of your conservative upbringing.
What is the genetic fallacy?
Generalizing about a class based upon a small or poor sample.
What is Hasty Generalization?
Asserting that we must choose between only two things, when in fact there are more than 2 alternatives.
What is an Either-Or Fallacy?
Asserting that what is true of part of something must also be true of the whole thing altogether.
What is Part-to-Whole Fallacy?
Asserting that what is true of something as a whole must also be true of each of its parts.
What is a Whole-to-Part Fallacy?
Our rooster crows every morning. Then the sun comes up. Now do you understand how important roosters are?
What is Post hoc ergo propter hoc?
Fred: i wouldn't smoke cigarettes if I were you. It is a bad habit, and it will bring you all kinds of problems.
Jake: Don't tell me not to smoke. You do it too.
Tu quoque
Mother: My car mechanic says the best way to fix computer problems is to just give the computer a good, sharp kick.
Faulty Appeal to Authority
Mrs. Parker: Our car isn't running right. I think we need to buy a better one - something more comfortable.
Mr. Parker: Oh, so you want us to buy a brand new fancy car? I don't think we have enough money for a Rolls Royce.
What is Straw Man?
Encouraging someone to think that a product or service would make them better or stand out from everybody else.
What is snob appeal?
Dad: Because it will help to develop your mind.
Jimmy: Why will it develop my mind?
Dad: Because it will help you think better.
Circular Reasoning
Neighbor: Either you're an American or you're a Communist. You aren't from America, so you must be a Communist.
Either-Or
There must be mountain lions living in Illinois, because I haven't seen any proof that none exist.
What is proof by lack of evidence?
Part-to-Whole
Grandma: If the English don't drive on the right side of the road, what are they doing on the wrong side?
What is Equivocation?
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What is exigency?