Unit 3: The Fallacy Detective

Something taken for granted or accepted as true without proof

• circular reasoning

• assumptions

• slippery slope

When someone asks two questions, but one is hidden behind the other

• part-to-whole

• either-or

• loaded question

When someone says that what is true of something as a whole must also be true of each of its parts

• whole-to-part

• part-to-whole

• assumption

Assumes that if we take one step, nothing will stop us from taking a series of steps because each step is the same

• equivocation

• circular reasoning

• slippery slope

When someone asserts that we must choose between two things, when in fact we have more than two alternatives

• slippery slope

• either-or

• assumption

The purpose of this Fallacy is to make you assume the answer to a hidden question without actually asking the hidden question

• loaded question

• circular reasoning

• either-or

When someone says that what is true of part of something must also be true of the whole thing together.

• part-to-whole

• whole-to-part

• assumption

Changing the meaning of the word in the middle of the argument

• circular reasoning

• equivocation

• either-or

An argument which says P is true because Q is true and Q is true because P is true

• circular reasoning

• assumption

• equivocation

Arguing in a circle

• slippery slope

• circular reasoning

• loaded question