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Types of Fallacies

This document defines and provides examples of common types of logical fallacies. It discusses fallacies of relevance such as appeals to authority, popularity, and emotion. It also covers fallacies of faulty reasoning like hasty generalization, post hoc ergo propter hoc, slippery slope, and straw man arguments. Examples are given for each fallacy type to illustrate how invalid logic and ambiguity can undermine arguments.

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233 views

Types of Fallacies

This document defines and provides examples of common types of logical fallacies. It discusses fallacies of relevance such as appeals to authority, popularity, and emotion. It also covers fallacies of faulty reasoning like hasty generalization, post hoc ergo propter hoc, slippery slope, and straw man arguments. Examples are given for each fallacy type to illustrate how invalid logic and ambiguity can undermine arguments.

Uploaded by

RexonSee
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of Fallacies

Hasty Generalization Fallacy - This is based upon only one abnormal situation. It is the
revers of a sweeping generalization fallacy.
 Hitler was a vegetarian. Therefore, I don't trust any vegetarians.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - This (meaning "after this, therefore because of this") is
based upon an assumption of cause and effect, A happened, then B happened, so A must
have caused B.
 I saw a magpie and then I crashed my car. Magpies are bad luck.

Cum Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - This fallacy (meaning "with this, therefore because of this")
is when the person making the argument connects two events which happen
simultaneously and assumes that one caused the other.
 Hospitals are full of sick people. Therefore hospitals make people sick.

Slippery Slope Fallacy - This falsely assume the consequences of actions.


 If we let your brother stay, we'll have to let your whole family stay.

Sweeping Generalization Fallacy - This includes too broad of an application of a premise.


 Running is a good way to keep fit, so everyone should run a mile every day.

Tu Quoque Fallacy - This applies the concept of "Look who's talking" and is used to turn
criticism against the other person.
 "You shouldn't have that second piece of cake. It's so fattening"
"Didn't you eat an
entire tub of ice cream yesterday?"

Appeal to Ignorance - Or Arguing from Ignorance, these fallacies abound in everyday


conversation, advertising, politics, and history. This fallacy argues that a proposition is true
because it has not yet been proven false.
 During his Communism investigations Joe McCarthy presented a case saying, "I do not
have much information on this except the general statement of the agency…that there
is nothing in the files to disprove his Communist connections." His argument was that,
because there was no evidence against a Communist connection, that person must be
working with the Communists. (Source: Senator Joe McCarthy, Richard H. Rovere,
Methuen, 1960).

Circular Argument - Also referred to as Circulus in Probando, this fallacy is when an


argument takes its proof from a factor within the argument itself, rather than from an
external one.
 I believe that Frosted Flakes are great because it says so on the Frosted Flakes
packaging.
False Dilemma- Sometimes referred to as Bifurcation, this type of fallacy occurs when
someone presents their argument in such a way that there are only two possible options.
 If you don't vote for this candidate, you must be a Communist.

Fallacies of Ambiguity
A fallacy can also be caused by a lack of clarity or by a misunderstanding of the words.
Examples of these fallacies include:
Accent Fallacies - These are based on the stress or emphasis of word or word parts is
unclear
 Depending on which word is stressed in the sentence "I didn't take the test yesterday",
has several meanings, such as someone else took the test or I took it another day.
Equivocation Fallacies - These occur when words are used multiple times with different
meanings.
 You have faith in science, and I have faith in God.

Straw Man Fallacies - These include misrepresentations to make an argument look weak.
 First senator: The nation is in debt and we should not add to the defense budget.
Second senator: I cannot believe you want to leave the nation defenseless!

Fallacies of Relevance
These fallacies attempt to persuade people with irrelevant information, appealing to
emotions rather than logic. Examples of these fallacies include:
Appeal to Authority - also referred to as Argumentum ad Verecundia (argument from
modesty). In this case, rather than focusing on the merits of an argument, the arguer will try
to attach their argument to a person of authority in order to give credence to their argument.
 Well, Isaac Newton believed in alchemy, do you think you know more than Isaac
Newton?

Appeal to Popular Opinion - This type of appeal is when someone claims that an idea or
belief is true simply because it is what most people believe.
 Lots of people bought this album, so it must be good.

Attacking the Person - Also known as ad Hominem, this is quite a common occurrence in
debates and refers to a person who substitutes a rebuttal with a personal insult.
 Don't listen to Eddie's arguments on education. He didn't even finish high school.

Bandwagon Fallacy - This contains arguments that are only appealing because of current
trends and growing popularity.
 More people are turning to meditation and mindfulness to help them cope with the
stress of modern-day living. Therefore meditation can make us all calmer.
Gambler's Fallacy - This assumes that short-term deviations will correct themselves.
 This coin has landed heads-up nine times in a row. So it will probably land tails-up next
time it is tossed.

Genetic Fallacy - This involves acceptance or rejection of concepts based on their source,
not their merit.
 My best friend says you're a liar, so I'm not going to talk to you.

Red Herring Fallacy - This uses irrelevant information or other techniques to distract from
the argument at hand.
 You bring up gay marriage and claim that I'm against it but isn't it just as important to
talk about the issue of homeless veterans. Did you know that I volunteer at a local
shelter?

Weak Analogy - These fallacies employ analogies between things that are not really alike.
 Cars kill people just like guns, but if you're not going to ban the sale of cars you can't
ban the sale of guns

Argumentum ad Baculum - This fallacy consists in persuading others to accept a


position by using threat or pressure. The strength of this fallacy lies on fear.

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