Fallacy Detective

Question 1

Fallacy

Answer 1

An error in logic

Question 2

2 Benefits looking at opposing viewpoints

Answer 2

1. We can change our views if we are wrong
2. We can better help others.

Question 3

Avoiding the question

Answer 3

When we introduce something irrelevant into an argument.

Question 4

Red Herring

Answer 4

Introduces an irrelevant point into an argument.

(Someone may think (or may want us to think) it proves his side but it really doesn’t)

Question 5

Special Pleading

Answer 5

When someone uses a double standard or argues for an unjustified exception.

Question 6

Ad Hominem

Answer 6

Attacking an opponent character or his motives for believing something instead of disproving the argument.

Question 7

NOT Ad Hominem

Answer 7

When someone questions whether someone else is telling the truth

Question 8

Genetic Fallacy

Answer 8

Condemning an argument because of where it began, how it began, or who began it.

Question 9

Tu Quoque

Answer 9

Dismissing someone’s viewpoint on an issue because he himself is inconsistent in that very thing.

Question 10

Faulty Appeal to Authority

Answer 10

An appeal to someone who has no special knowledge in the area being discussed.

Question 11

Appeal to the People

Answer 11

When we claim that our viewpoint is correct because many other people agree with it

Question 12

Straw Man

Answer 12

Changing or exaggerating an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute.

Question 13

Assumption

Answer 13

Something taken for granted or accepted as true without proof.

Question 14

Circular Reasoning

Answer 14

An argument which says “P is true because is true, and Q is true because P is true”

Question 15

Equivocation

Answer 15

When someone changes the meaning of a word in the middle of an argument

Question 16

Loaded Question

Answer 16

When someone asks two questions, but one is hidden behind the other.

Question 17

Slippery Slope

Answer 17

This fallacy assumes that if we take one step, nothing will stop us from taking us a series of steps because each step is the same.

Question 18

Part-to-Whole

Answer 18

When someone says that what is true of part of something MUST also be true of the whole thing together that is a part-to-whole fallacy.

Question 19

Whole-to-Part

Answer 19

When someone says that what is true of something as a whole MUST ALSO be true of each of its parts….that is whole to part fallacy

Question 20

Either-OR

Answer 20

When someone asserts that we MUST choose between two things, when in fact we have more than two alternatives.

Question 21

What is a generalization?

Answer 21

A generalization takes a sample from a class of things, then, using the characteristics from that sample, says something about everyone in that class.

Question 22

What is a class?

Answer 22

A class is a group of people or things which all have some common characteristics.

Question 23

Sample

Answer 23

When you examine one or more of the people or things in a class, then you are taking a sample of the class.

Question 24

Hasty Generalization

Answer 24

Generalizing about a class based upon a small or poor sample.

Question 25

Analogy

Answer 25

We are reasoning by analogy when we compare two items to each other

Question 26

Strong Analogy

Answer 26

The similarities between the items being compared are major and the differences are only minor.

Question 27

Weak Analogy

Answer 27

Differences between the two items being compared are major and the similarities only minor

Question 28

Post hoc ergo Propter hoc

Answer 28

Concluding that since A happened before B, A must have caused B.

Question 29

Proof by lack of evidence

Answer 29

Claiming something is true simply because nobody has yet given any evidence to the contrary

Question 30

Propaganda

Answer 30

Any strategy for spreading our beliefs or ideas

Question 31

Appeal to Fear

Answer 31

a propaganda technique. Is used when someone makes you fear the consequences of not doing what he wants.

Question 32

Appeal to Pity

Answer 32

When someone tries to make us do something only because we pity him or we pity something associated with him

Question 33

Bandwagon

Answer 33

The bandwagon technique invites us to jump on the bandwagon and do what everybody else is doing.

Question 34

Exigency

Answer 34

When nothing more that a time limit is given as a reason for us to do what someone wants.

Question 35

Repitition

Answer 35

Repeating a message loudly and very often in the hope that others will believe it.

Question 36

Transfer

Answer 36

Getting us to transfer our good or bad feelings about one thing to another unrelated thing.

Question 37

Snob Appeal

Answer 37

Used when someone tries to persuade us to think his product would make us better or make us stand out from everyone else.

Question 38

Appeal to Tradition

Answer 38

occurs when someone encourages us to buy some product or take some action because it is associated with things of the past.

Question 39

Appeal to Hi-Tech

Answer 39

we are encouraged to buy something because it is the "latest thing" - not necessarily because it is the best thing.