Logical Fallacies

    • Ad hominem argument: “to the man” a personal attack on an opponent

    • Ad misericordiam argument: “to pity” making an emotional appeal

    • Ad populum argument: “to the people” aimed at appealing to the supposed prejudices/emotions of the masses

    • Bandwagon appeal: “Everybody is doing it” Claims that everyone is doing this and thinking this

    • Begging the Question: To pass off as true an assumption that needs to be proven

    • Circular Reasoning: The conclusion is hidden in the premise: Ex: Something is dangerous because it is dangerous.

    • False Analogy: When the things being compared do NOT match up feature for feature

    • False Dilemma: Simplifying complex issues into an either/or choice.

    • Faulty Use of Authority: When someone who is an expert in one area is used as an authority for another unrelated area.

    • Hasty Generalization: When the writer arrives at a conclusion based on too little evidence

    • Non Sequitur: “does not follow” Draws a conclusion that does not follow logically from the premise

    • Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc: “after this, therefore because of this” Establishes a questionable cause-and-effect relationship between events. Because X follows Y, then Y causes X.

    • Red Herring: Evidence used to distract the audience from the true issues

    • Slippery Slope: Presumes one event will inevitably lead to a chain of other events that end in a catastrophe

    • Stacking the Deck: Give ONLY the evidence that supports their premise

Enright, Jennifer. "Logical Fallacies." Prezi, 14 Feb. 2017, https://prezi.com/styzqecndyvu/logical-fallacies/

Sources for additional information about logical fallacies:

Curtis, Gary. "What is a Logical Fallacy." Fallacy Files. 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/introtof.html

Site includes a glossary of terms and examples of fallacies

Dowden, Bradley. "Fallacies." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: A Peer-Reviewed Academic Resource. IEP.utm.edu. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy /

An alphabetical listing of logical fallacies with discussion

Downes, Stephen. Stephen's Guide to the Logical Fallacies. Assiniboine Community College. n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2010. http://people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/logicalfallacies.html

Site includes definitions and examples.

“Fallacies.” The Writing Center. U of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018, https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/fallacies/ .

Definitions, examples, tips for avoiding.

Ferrer, David. “Fifteen Logical Fallacies You Should Know Before Getting into a Debate.” The Best Schools, 25 Sept. 2018, https://thebestschools.org/magazine/15-logical-fallacies-know/

Definitions, examples with film clips and comparative examples

.

“Philosophy 103: Introduction to Logic.” Lander University. 2009. Web. 25 Aug. 2011. http://philosophy.lander.edu/ or http://philosophy.lander.edu/logic/index.html

Course topic links include structure, language, fallacies, syllogisms, symbolic logic

"Logical Fallacies." LEO: Literacy Education Online. St. Cloud State. 1998. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/logic.html

Groups fallacies by type of appeal:

feelings

distraction from the argument

misinformation

generalization

irrelevant connections

"Some Common Fallacies of Argument." University of British Columbia Writing Centre. 14 Oct. 2009. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. http://cstudies.ubc.ca/writers-workshop/writers-toolbox/argument/fallacies-argument.html

“Thou Shalt Not Commit Logical Fallacies.” The School of Thought. 25 Sept. 2018. https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ .

Posters with definitions; includes a similar poster about biases

Attached document:

Rostankowski, Cynthia. “Mission Critical: Fallacies and Non-Rational Persuasion.” Humanities 1B. San Jose State University. 2009. Lecture. http://www.sjsu.edu/people/cynthia.rostankowski/courses/c4/