Logical Fallacies

Straw Man

• Misrepresenting or exaggerating someone’s argument to make it easier to attack.

• A logical fallacy that involves attacking the person instead of the argument.

• Presenting a counterargument that is unrelated to the original argument.

• Using emotional appeals instead of logical reasoning.

Hasty Generalization

• Making a broad conclusion based on limited or insufficient evidence.

• A logical fallacy where one assumes that a single example represents a whole group.

• A method of reasoning that relies on anecdotal evidence rather than statistical data.

• A conclusion drawn from a comprehensive analysis of multiple cases.

Tu Quoque (You Too Fallacy)

• Dismissing criticism by accusing the other person of doing the same thing.

• Providing a valid counterargument to the criticism.

• Agreeing with the criticism and apologizing.

• Ignoring the criticism completely.

Ad Hominem

• Attacking the argument itself to strengthen one's position.

• Attacking the person making the argument instead of addressing the argument itself.

• Providing evidence to support a claim.

• Ignoring the argument and focusing on unrelated issues.

Loaded Question

• A question that is straightforward and fair.

• A question that contains an unfair or unwarranted assumption.

• A question that is designed to confuse the respondent.

• A question that requires a yes or no answer.

Appeal to Emotion

• Using logic and facts to persuade someone.

• Using emotions rather than logic to persuade someone. Example: “If you don’t donate to this charity, innocent puppies will suffer and die.”

• Presenting a balanced argument with both pros and cons.

• Ignoring the emotional aspect of an argument.

False Dilemma (False Dichotomy)

• Presenting only two options when there are actually more possibilities. Example: “You’re either with us, or you’re against us.”

• A logical fallacy that involves attacking the character of the opponent instead of the argument.

• A situation where a conclusion is drawn from insufficient evidence or a small sample size.

• A reasoning error where the cause is incorrectly identified as the effect.

Appeal to Ignorance

• Arguing that something must be true because there is no evidence proving otherwise. Example: “No one has proven that ghosts don’t exist, so they must be real.”

• Claiming that a statement is true because it has not been proven false.

• Assuming that a lack of evidence for one side means the opposite must be true.

• Believing that something is false simply because it has not been proven true.

Bandwagon (Ad Populum)

• Arguing that something is true or right just because a lot of people believe it.

• A logical fallacy that attacks the person instead of the argument.

• A method of persuasion that relies on emotional appeal rather than facts.

• A technique that involves presenting only two options when more exist.

Appeal to Authority

• Claiming something is true simply because an authority figure or expert says it is, without examining the evidence.

• Using personal anecdotes to support a claim without scientific backing.

• Citing statistical data to prove a point without considering the source.

• Making a claim based on popular opinion rather than factual evidence.