Explore tens of thousands of sets crafted by our community.
Logic and Fallacy Recognition
24
Flashcards
0/24
Ad Hominem
Attacking the character or circumstances of an individual instead of the argument they are making. Example: Dismissing someone's views on climate change by saying they're not a scientist.
Bandwagon Fallacy
Assuming that an argument is valid because of its widespread acceptance. Example: You must watch that TV show - everyone's talking about it!
Appeal to Popularity
Claiming something is true because a lot of people believe it. Example: Everyone drives above the speed limit, so it must be safe.
Fallacy of Division
Assuming that what is true for the whole must also be true of its parts. Example: That machine is heavy, so every part of it must be heavy.
Moralistic Fallacy
Assuming that what is morally right or good must necessarily be the natural state of things. Example: Because stealing is wrong, nature will ensure that thieves never prosper.
False Equivalence
Drawing an equivalence between two subjects based on flawed or false reasoning. Example: Those who want higher minimum wages are like socialists who want the government to control everything.
Slippery Slope
Asserting that a relatively small first step will lead to a chain of related events culminating in some significant effect. Example: If we allow same-sex couples to marry, next thing we know people will be marrying their pets.
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
Assuming that because one event followed another, it was also caused by it. Example: A rooster crows immediately before sunrise, so the crowing rooster causes the sun to rise.
Red Herring
Introducing an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue. Example: During a debate on the economy, a politician starts discussing their opponent's marital problems instead.
Appeal to Consequences
Arguing for or against the truth of a statement by appealing to the desirability of its consequences. Example: Believing in God must be true because if it weren't, life would have no meaning.
Naturalistic Fallacy
Conflating what 'is' with what 'ought to be,' assuming that because something is a certain way, it is also how it should be. Example: People have always gone to war; war is a natural part of human existence.
Hasty Generalization
Making a general statement based on a small or unrepresentative sample. Example: My grandfather smoked his whole life and never got lung cancer, so smoking might not be as harmful as they say.
Appeal to Tradition
Arguing that a practice or policy is good simply because it has been done historically. Example: Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman, so that's how it should remain.
Gambler's Fallacy
Believing that the probability of a random event is influenced by previous events. Example: The roulette wheel has landed on black five times in a row, so it's definitely going to be red next.
Appeal to Ignorance
Asserting a claim is true because it has not been proven false or vice versa. Example: You can't prove that there aren't Martians living underground, so it is reasonable to believe there are.
False Dilemma
Presenting two opposing options as the only possibilities, when in fact more exist. Example: You're either with us or against us.
Circular Reasoning
When the conclusion of an argument is used as a premise of the same argument. Example: We know that God exists because the Bible says so, and we know that the Bible is accurate because it was written by God.
Straw Man
Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack. Example: Politician A says we should put more money into health and education. Politician B says Politician A wants to give money to bureaucrats and nothing for public security.
No True Scotsman
Making an appeal to purity to dismiss relevant criticisms or flaws of an argument. Example: No true vegan would ever eat a piece of cheese.
Genetic Fallacy
Judging something as either good or bad on the basis of where or from whom it comes. Example: He's not going to be a good basketball player because none of his parents were athletes.
Fallacy of Composition
Assuming that what is true of a part of something must be true for the whole. Example: Each brick is light; therefore, the brick wall must be light.
Burden of Proof
Asserting that the burden of proof lies not with the person making the claim, but with someone else to disprove. Example: I claim that unicorns are real; prove that they aren't.
Appeal to Authority
Using the opinion of an authority or famous person to argue that a proposition is true. Example: Our mayor is a big fan of that construction project, so it must be a good idea.
Begging the Question
A form of circular reasoning in which the conclusion of an argument is implicitly or explicitly assumed in one of the premises. Example: Freedom of speech is important because people should be able to speak freely.
© Hypatia.Tech. 2024 All rights reserved.