Fallacy Definitions
A fallacy that purposely misleads or distracts the audience by bringing up an irrelevant issue.
Red Herring
An argument uses fear, pity, or joy (for example) in order to support a claim.
Your opponent’s argument has been poorly argued, or a fallacy was made, so their entire conclusion is deemed as wrong.
Fallacy Fallacy
“Why do you hate giving to charity?”
Loaded Question
I think you have to support the Padres because everyone in San Diego supports the Padres.
Bandwagon
A fallacy that restates the argument rather than actually proving it.
Circular Reasoning
An argument is deemed as true solely because someone of higher power supports it.
Appeal to Authority
Your opponent begins attacking your character rather than the argument you are presenting.
Ad Hominem
“It’s time to go to bed because it its your bedtime.”
Circular Reasoning
I met one French person and they were mean, so all French people are mean.
Hasty Generalization
A fallacy that assumes the truth, or best solution, is a compromise between two extreme opposing positions.
Middle Ground
An argument claims that a belief/action is true because it “always has been done this way.”
Appeal to Tradition
Your opponent argues that since you vouch for free healthcare, you want to cut military spending.
Strawman
“Either you’re with us or you’re against us.”
False Dilemma
If you don’t give me a pen, then I won’t be able to write my essay, then I won’t pass my class, then I won’t go to college, then I will have no job, then I won’t be able to pay rent, and then I will be homeless!
Slippery Slope
A fallacy that supports their false argument by pointing out that their opponent is also open to question.
Tu Quoque
A student demands to get a higher grade and says “If I fail this class, then you are single-handedly ruining my entire future!”
Appeal to Emotion
Your opponent says that since you showed up late to class one time, that you are a bad student.
Anecdotal
“Many people buy extended warranties, so we should buy one for our new computer.”
Argumentum ad Populum
I think that a McDonald’s happy meal is actually good for you because they come with really cool toys and collectibles that you can’t get anywhere else.
Red Herring
A fallacy that oversimplifies an opponent’s viewpoint in order to make a rebuttal easier.
Your grandparents refuse to send text messages because they believe sending hand-written letters is the “right” way to communicate.
Appeal to Tradition
Your opponent claims that they don’t need a logical argument to be correct, but you do.
Special Pleading
”Dogs are better than nothing. Nothing is better than cats. Therefore, cats are better than dogs.”
Equivocation
I think I should be in charge of the entire school because I am a nice person and care about students.
Ignoratio Elenchi