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Fallacies: What Are They?

The document defines fallacies as illogical statements that demonstrate flawed reasoning. It provides examples of over 20 common fallacies, including hasty generalization, false dilemma, appeal to authority, false analogy, slippery slope, ad hominem, red herring, bandwagon, begging the question, and appeal to ignorance. The fallacies outlined can involve misleading or irrelevant evidence, oversimplification, emotional appeals, and other logically invalid arguments.

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Angelica Briones
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57 views13 pages

Fallacies: What Are They?

The document defines fallacies as illogical statements that demonstrate flawed reasoning. It provides examples of over 20 common fallacies, including hasty generalization, false dilemma, appeal to authority, false analogy, slippery slope, ad hominem, red herring, bandwagon, begging the question, and appeal to ignorance. The fallacies outlined can involve misleading or irrelevant evidence, oversimplification, emotional appeals, and other logically invalid arguments.

Uploaded by

Angelica Briones
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Fallacies

What are they?


Definition
• There are over 100 fallacies
• They are illogical statements that
demonstrate erroneous reasoning
(sometimes intended-manipulation/ or not
intended)
• They’re generally hurtful and distract
from the argument
• Be careful because the fallacy is sometimes
very subtle
Fallacies
• QA 56-58
• Hasty Generalization: drawing a
conclusion from insufficient evidence
• Either/Or: creates the false dilemma
(binary) by limiting the choice to 2
alternatives when there are more options
• False Authority (Appeal to an Expert):
citing irrelevant information of an expert
who isn’t an expert on the issue/subject
Fallacies contd.
• False Analogy: comparing two disparate
things when the comparison is invalid.

• False Cause: claims that one event leads to


another (but the events are unrelated)

• Slipper Slope: arguments that suggest an


event will precipitate the domino effect-
ending in inevitable disaster.
Fallacies contd.
• Ad Hominem: attacking your opponent-
their appearance, personal habits or
character instead of dealing with the
validity of the argument

• Red Herring: fallacy of distraction which


brings up unrelated/irrelevant issues to
distract people from the truth.
Fallacies contd.
• Bandwagon (Appeal to Popularity):
basing an argument on a popular belief
and using this as proof that it’s valid.
• Non Sequitur (Irrelevant argument):
means “it does not follow”. The
conclusion doesn’t follow the premise.
Fallacies contd.
• Begging the Question or (Circular
Reasoning): the supporting reasons
restate the claim. The argument
paraphrases the same idea w/out
evidence.
Fallacies contd.
• Death by a 1000 Qualifications: making a
statement that might be true but using so
many qualifiers that it becomes
insignificant.

• Many Questions: asking questions that


subtly attacks opponent
Fallacies contd.
• Oversimplification: using absolute
statements that might not be relevant-or
presenting overly simplistic explanations
when the issues is infinitely complex
Fallacies contd.
• Appeal to Ignorance: basing an argument
on the lack of evidence. Have to present
negative evidence to ‘prove’ something.

• Appeal to Tradition: basing an argument


on tradition
Fallacies contd.
• Protecting the Hypothesis:
manipulating/mischaracterizing data to
prove a point

• Fallacy of Omission: conveniently leaving


out relevant information that would
weaken argument
Fallacies contd.
• Emotional Appeals: inciting fear,
tradition, or pity to manipulate audience’s
emotions rather than their reasoning

• Equivocation/Slanted Language: biasing


the reader by using word choices that
have multiple connotations to manipulate
your point.
Fallacies contd.
• Straw Man: using the ‘weakest’ points of
opponents argument to mischaracterize
their position

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