Logical Fallacies
Introduction
What is a logical fallacy?
A fallacy is an error of reasoning. These
are flawed statements that often sound
true
Logical fallacies are often used to
strengthen an argument, but if the reader
detects them the argument can backfire,
and damage the writer’s credibility
Origins
The word “fallacy” derives from the Latin
word fallere meaning, “to deceive, to trip,
to lead into error or to trick.” The word
also derives from the Greek phelos,
meaning “deceitful.”
www.sun-design.com/talitha/fallacies.htm
Why study logical fallacies?
It is important to develop logical fallacy detection skills in your own writing, as well as others’.
Think of this as “intellectual kung-fu: the art of intellectual self defense.” (Logical Fallacies Handlist)
Types of Logical Fallacies
The following slides will briefly explain 15
fallacious arguments.
Types of Logical Fallacies
- 1. “Bandwagon Approach”
- “It must be cool because everyone is doing it…
- “90 percent of computer users choose Macs”
- (sometimes called Appeal to Popularity)
Argumentum ad Populum
Appeal to the Popular- Urging the
hearers to accept a position because
a majority of people hold to it.
Example: The majority of people like
soda. Therefore, soda is good.
Example: Everyone else is believing on
it. Why shouldn't you?
Types of Logical Fallacies
- 2.“Slippery Slope” - a fallacious argument built
on the supposition that a small step will lead to
a larger chain of events
“If you don’t stop smoking, then you are going to start
shooting heroin.”
- “Marijuana is the gateway drug.”
Slippery Slope, cont.
3) Appeals to Authority
Using a celebrity or authority figure’s name
to support an issue which if not really his
or her expertise.
“Katie Perry thinks the killer should be
pardoned.” FALSE AUTHORITY .
Often called.. . Using a suspicious,
incredible source to defend a conclusion
Types of Logical Fallacies
4.) Card Stacking
Considered a fallacy of omission
- Material is simply left out or taken out of
context, ignoring evidence that doesn’t
support your opinion
5) Hasty Generalizations
This is the chief error in reasoning! – a
type of inductive reasoning – conclusions
made through insufficient evidence
Ex: The last two mass murderers were from
Michigan. Obviously, people from
Michigan are dangerous.
Fallacies, continued . . .
6) Begging the question: A is true
because A is true . . . “chocolate is healthy
because it is good for you”
7) Straw Man: a fallacy of distraction – an
irrelevant conclusion (Ex: How could he
possibly cheat on his taxes? He’s such a
great father!)
Straw Man, con.
More Fallacies
8) Appeals to Pity: appealing to
someone’s emotions in order to distract
them from the truth.
9) Ad Hominem: Latin for “To the man” –
pointing out a negative characteristic to
support one’s argument (ex: how could
Mary know anything about cars? She’s a
woman!)
10) Non sequitur: conclusion doesn’t
logically follow the premise (Men are
human. Mary is human. Therefore, Mary
is a man.)
11) Guilt by association: a false
correlation between two events (9/11-
Sandy Hook shooting)
12) Faulty Cause/effect: Ex: “we’ve
been in business 50 years – That makes
us the best!
13) False needs: “If parents want
intelligent children, they must buy Baby
Mozart!”
14) Either/Or fallacy – aka False
Dilemma . . . “You’re either part of the
solution or part of the problem”
15.) Post Hoc
The arguer infers that because one event
follows another, the first event must be the
cause of the second event.
Causation without correlation
Ex: The rooster crowed, the sun came up.
Therefore, the rooster made the sun come
up.
2. Argumentum ad Baculum
Appeal to Force - Telling the
hearers that something bad will
happen to him if he does not accept
the argument.
Example: If you don't want to get
beaten up, you will agree with what I
say.
Example: Convert or die.
3. Argumentum ad Misericordiam
Appeal to Pity - Urging the hearer to
accept the argument based upon an
appeal to emotions, sympathy,
etc. Example: Please accept me in
your company because I have many
mouths to feed.
Example: Oh come on, I've been sick.
That's why I missed the deadline.
4. Argumentum ad Populum
Appeal to the Popular- Urging the
hearers to accept a position because
a majority of people hold to it.
Example: The majority of people like
soda. Therefore, soda is good.
Example: Everyone else is believing on
it. Why shouldn't you?
5. Argumentum ad Ignorantiam
Appeal to ignorance – it suggests that
since there is no proof to the contrary,
then something must be true.
Example: We can say that there is no
life after death because thus
far no dead has come back and
proves that there is.
6. Poisoning the Well
Presenting negative information
about a person before he/she speaks
so as to discredit the person's
argument.
Example: Do not trust him, he will just
hurt you.
7. Cause and Effect
It assumes that the effect is related to
a cause because the events occur
together.
Example: When the rooster crows, the
sun rises. Therefore, the rooster
causes the sun to rise.
8. Begging the Question
Assuming the thing to be true that you
are trying to prove. It is circular.
Example: God exists because the Bible
says so. It is true because it is not
false.
9. Composition
Assuming that what is true of the part
is true for the whole.
Example: That engine is blue.
Therefore, the car is blue.
Example: You are weird. That means
that your family is weird, too.
10. Division
Fallacy of Division assumes that what
is true of the whole is true for the
parts.
Example: That car is blue. Therefore,
its engine is blue.
Example: Your family is weird. That
means that you are weird, too.
11. Equivocation
It uses the same term in an argument in
different places but the word has different
meanings.
Example:
Star is a heavenly body. Sharon Cuneta is
a star. Thus, she is a heavenly.
12. Guilt by Association
Rejecting an argument or claim
because the person proposing it likes
something which is disliked by another.
Example: Sir Alex teaches logic.
Therefore I hate logic.
Example: Your friend is a thief.
Therefore, I cannot trust
you.
13. Non- Contradiction
The argument is self-contradictory
and cannot possibly be true.
The argument asserts its
contradictory statement.
Quiz on these fallacies on Friday!!!!!
Logical Fallacy Roundup
In groups of 2-4, search websites,
newspapers, advertisements, etc. to find
arguments that may contain logical
fallacies.
Find two logical fallacies to share with
the class on Thursday or Friday.
In conclusion, always be on the lookout
for faulty reasoning!
If you took notes and
completed the
activity, you are a
genius!
Congratulations!
