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Logical Fallacies Examples

Terms in this set (31)

"Although Ms. Jackson has been accused of misusing government funds, she has donated all of her income for the past three years to charity."
STRAWMAN
Setting up an artificially easy argument to refute in place of the real issue
"Sam Smith divorced his loving wife of ten years. How could he be qualified to be mayor?"
AD HOMINEM
An attack on the character of the individual or the opponent rather than his or her actual arguments or qualifications
"Teaching kids about sex education is like letting them loose in a candy store."
FAULTY COMPARISON/FALSE ANALOGY
Basing an argument on simplistic comparison of two things, ideas, events, or situations
" I figured that you couldn't possibly get it right, so I ignored your comment."
AD HOMINEM
An attack on the character of the individual or the opponent rather than his or her actual arguments or qualifications
"He speaks with a funny German accent. He must be a Nazi."
GENETIC FALLACY
Arguing that the origins of a person, object, or institution determine its worth
"I am a good worker because Frank says so. How can we trust Frank? Simple: I will vouch for him."
CIRCULAR ARGUMENT
A sentence or argument that restates rather than proves
"Because I forgot to leave my porch light on, someone robbed my house."
POST HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC
Arguing that because Event B occurred after Event A, Event A caused Event B.
"You should vote for Tom Green because he stands for Canadian values."
AD POPULUM (bandwagon)
An emotional appeal to positive concepts or negative concepts rather than a direct discussion of the real issue.
"We can either stop using cars or destroy the planet."
EITHER/OR
An oversimplification that reduces alternatives to only two choices, thereby creating a false dilemma
"Professor P. is a hard grader because he gave me a 36 on a biology test."
HASTY GENERALIZATION
Conclusion is not justified by sufficient or unbiased evidence
"You are so stupid your argument couldn't possibly be true. "
AD HOMINEM
An attack on the character of the individual or the opponent rather than his or her actual arguments or qualifications
"Prime Minister Trudeau was a well-read man because he was an intellectual."
CIRCULAR ARGUMENT
A sentence or argument that restates rather than proves
"Filthy and polluting coal should be banned."
BEGGING THE QUESTION
Loading the conclusion in the claim; assuming that something is true before it is proved
"The Volkswagen Beetle is an evil car because it was originally designed by Hitler's army."
GENETIC FALLACY
Arguing that the origins of a person, object, or institution determine its worth
"Everyone knows that our ineffective drug control program is a miserable failure."
BEGGING THE QUESTION
Loading the conclusion in the claim; assuming that something is true before it is proved
"I know I forgot to deposit the check into the bank yesterday. But, nothing I do pleases you."
RED HERRING
Avoiding countering an opposing argument directly by introducing a non-issue to the argument
"Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies."
AD HOMINEM
An attack on the character of the individual or the opponent rather than his or her actual arguments or qualifications
"Equal pay for women is an important issue, but I wonder whether women really want to take the responsibility that comes with higher-paying jobs."
RED HERRING
Avoiding countering an opposing argument directly by introducing a non-issue to the argument
" We know that evolution is false because we did not evolve from monkeys."
STRAWMAN
Setting up an artificially easy argument to refute in place of the real issue
"Frank just got out of jail last year; since it was his idea to start the hardware store, I can't trust him."
GENETIC FALLACY
Arguing that the origins of a person, object, or institution determine its worth
"I know your car isn't working right. But, if you had gone to the store one day earlier, you'd not be having problems."
RED HERRING
Avoiding countering an opposing argument directly by introducing a non-issue to the argument
"If you were a true American, you would support the rights of people to choose whatever vehicle they want."
AD POPULUM (bandwagon)
An emotional appeal to positive concepts or negative concepts rather than a direct discussion of the real issue.
"Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring course."
HASTY GENERALIZATION
Conclusion is not justified by sufficient or unbiased evidence
"I am a good worker because Frank says so. How can we trust Frank? Simple: I will vouch for him."
BEGGING THE QUESTION
Loading the conclusion in the claim; assuming that something is true before it is proved
"If marijuana is legalized, then everyone will become drug addicts."
SLIPPERY SLOPE
If A happens, then it is just a matter of time until B, C, D, etc. happen.
"Either we ban boxing or hundreds of young men will be senselessly killed."
EITHER/OR
An oversimplification that reduces alternatives to only two choices, thereby creating a false dilemma
"God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible is inspired. Therefore, we know that God exists."
BEGGING THE QUESTION
Loading the conclusion in the claim; assuming that something is true before it is proved
"I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick."
POST HOC, ERGO PROPTER HOC
Arguing that because Event B occurred after Event A, Event A caused Event B.
"The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families."
RED HERRING
Avoiding countering an opposing argument directly by introducing a non-issue to the argument
"The government doesn't take care of the poor because it doesn't have a tax specifically to support the poor."
STRAWMAN
Setting up an artificially easy argument to refute in place of the real issue
"If we let students wear sleeveless shirts, then before your know it, they will be wearing no shirts at all."
SLIPPERY SLOPE
If A happens, then it is just a matter of time until B, C, D, etc. happen.
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...