Fallacies

A conclusion based on insufficient, incomplete, or biased information

• bandwagon

• hasty generalization

• circular reasoning

• mistaken causality

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This happens when you assume that something is acceptable just because it is very common.

• circular reasoning

• ignoring the question

• ad hominem

• bandwagon

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.8

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An attack or reaction to the person rather than the person’s point/argument

• ad hominem

• bandwagon

• circular reasoning

• either/or

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

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This occurs when one wrongly claims that one event causes another.

• ad hominem

• circular reasoning

• mistaken causality

• bandwagon

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

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This happens when someone diverts the attention of the audience from the real issue or the matter at hand.

• ad hominem

• circular reasoning

• bandwagon

• ignoring the question

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

What is a fallacy?

• an argument that is won by an either/or choice

• a conclusion that is reached by circular reasoning

• an argument that is flawed by faulty logic

• a conclusion that is reached when there are no good solutions

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The main reason we sometimes don't recognize faulty logic is:

• we don't care about possible options because our focus is to win

• we agree with the principle of the argument that is being made

• we don't care who wins or loses the argument

• there are only two options to choose from in an argument

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

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What is the either/or fallacy?

• It is when the argument suggests that because a large number of people have adopted a solution we should, too.

• It is when we have to make a rushed conclusion without considering other sides of the argument.

• It is when we believe something is true just because it hasn't been disproven.

• It is when the argument suggests that there are only two options or potential outcomes

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

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What is an example of an appeal to ignorance?

• Nobody has proven that Bigfoot doesn't exist, so therefore Bigfoot exists.

• 1 billion people were served at McDonald's last year, so therefore McDonald's serves delicious food and we should eat there, too.

• Would you rather eat chicken at lunch today or starve?

• That student is wearing the same clothes as yesterday, so therefore that is the student's favorite outfit.

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The authority fallacy is when:

• a large number of people have participated in something and the statistic is used to endorse the activity or product (example: a million Australians trying Oral B toothpaste)

• there are only two possible solutions to a problem and you must pick one (example: live where you can eat breakfast at McDonalds or live in a dictatorship)

• a celebrity or other source of authority is used to "endorse" your argument even though that celebrity/authority is not legitimately connected to the argument (example: Alex Trebek as a spokesperson for an insurance product)

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.8

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.11-12.8

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5