Logical Fallacies Flashcards
(21 cards)
Argumentum Ad Hominem
Argument against the person: arguments attack a person’s [character] rather than [reasoning through] the issues.
Red Herring
attempts to [distract] by shifting attention [away from an] important issue.
Ad Populum (Bandwagon)
an argument that appeals to [emotions or prejudices] of a certain group, despite being [logically wrong].
Ad Misericordiam
an argument that appeals [to pity].
Non-Sequitur
This fallacy draws conclusions [from premises] that do not [necessarily apply to each other].
False Dichotomy.
The either/ or fallacy that makes the assumption that [there are only two alternatives].
Straw Person .
Straw Person arguments [excessively simplify ] an opponent’s [viewpoint] to argue against it more easily.
Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning).
occurs when a writer assumes that [a statement under dispute] is in fact true; such an argument [circular].
Sentimental Appeals
tug at an audience’s [heart string] to the point of [ignoring the facts], perhaps to keep the audience from [disagreeing from the writer].
Equivocation (splitting hairs)
a statement that is [partially correct] but that [purposely obscures] the entire truth.
A Faulty Analogy.
an [inaccurate], [inappropriate], or [misleading] comparison between two things.
A Hasty Generalization
draws conclusions from [scanty evidence].
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc After this, therefore because of this
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc After this, therefore because of this: an argument assumes [causation] based on the [passing of time].
Ad Ignorantiam An appeal to ignorance
an argument that claims something is [true or false] because there is [no evidence to prove otherwise].
Reductio Ad Absurdum Reduction to the absurd
a disproof by showing that [the consequences] of the proposition [are absurd]; or proof of a proposition by showing [that its negation] leads to [a contradiction].
Slippery Slope
Slippery Slope: when someone makes a claim about a series of events that would lead to one major event, usually a bad event.
Appeal to Emotion: (argumentum ad passiones)
a logical fallacy characterized by the manipulation of the recipient’s emotions in order to win an argument, especially in the absence of factual evidence
Guilt by Association.
occurs when someone connects an opponent to a demonized group of people or to a bad person in order to discredit his or her argument.
Appeal to Nature
because something is ‘natural’ it is therefore valid, justified, inevitable, good or idea
False Causation
occurs when the link between premises and conclusion depends on some imagined causal connection that probably does not exist.
Appeal to Authority: (argumentum ad verecundiam)
Insisting that a claim is true simply because a valid authority or expert on the issue said it was true, without any other supporting evidence offered.
