2. 1. Name-Calling
Fallacy that attempts to ruin
an opponent’s reputation
with an unfavorable label.
(It often backfires.)
3. Name-Calling in the News
Rush Limbaugh referred
to a woman who wanted
the cost of contraception
covered by healthcare as
a “prostitute.”
Bill Maher has also used
female vulgarisms to
criticize female politicians.
Both have been heavily-criticized lately.
5. 2. Either/Or
• A fallacy that presents only a limited range
of choices
• In reality, there can be many more.
6. Either/Or Examples
• “You’re either with us or against us.”
• “You can support your country by
voting for me, or you can watch it fall
to pieces.”
• “If you don’t fight against animal
abuse, you must condone it.”
7. 3. Hasty Generalization
A fallacy in which a conclusion is made about
an entire group based on a sample that
isn’t big enough.
Example:
“A group of Muslims were responsible for 9/11
attacks. Therefore, no Muslims can be
trusted.”
8. Hasty Generalization in the News
Zimmerman (right): “This guy looks like he’s
up to no good, or he’s on drugs or
something. It’s raining and he’s just
walking around, looking about.”
Trayvon Martin’s shooting death—racial profiling?
9. 4. Cause and Effect
“A and B occur together.
Therefore, A is the cause of B.”
10. Cause and Effect Example
Many people think the following:
“Rap is ruining our youth. They should ban
rap music from TV and radio because all it
does is tell kids to kill cops, do drugs, and
abuse women.”
How is this an example of false cause/effect?
11. Cause and Effect In the News
“Does God hate Haiti? That is the conclusion reached by
many, who point to the earthquake as a sign of God’s direct
and observable judgment.” – Albert Mohler
12. 5. Loaded Language
Language that carries with it a heavy emotional charge.
Can be positive or negative.
Unloaded Negatively Loaded
Animal Beast
Home Cave
Plan Trap
Inform Brainwash
Talk Lecture
13. Loaded Language Example
“Mary screeched at her new employees and
dictated their every move while she slithered
around the workroom.”
Which words carry a heavier meaning?
• “Screeched,” “dictated,” and “slithered”
14. Loaded Language Example 2
“Mary’s angelic voice soothed her new
employees’ nerves as she glided throughout
the workroom.”
Which words carry a heavier meaning?
• “Angelic,” “soothed,” and “glided”
15. Have some practice…
See if you can identify which logical fallacy
occurs in the following examples.
16. Have some practice…
1. The following describes a famous speech given by
Douglas MacArthur:
“Here was prophecy as revealing as a beacon light….
Here was hope: the dedication that we will live in a
world where those of us who are Americans can
be proud…. Here was history tolling like an old
and important bell: the mighty warning that
mighty America, once having entered this major
war, must not let it end in impasse….”
Answer: Loaded language (positive)
Prophecy, beacon light, hope, proud, mighty
17. Have some practice…
2. Robin: I guess you can never trust a woman.
Batman: You've made a _______________________,
Robin. It's a bad habit to get into.
Answer: hasty generalization
Robin falsely assumed that all women are
untrustworthy.
18. Have some practice…
3. “Will you donate to protect endangered
animals, or will you watch them disappear
before your eyes?”
Answer: either/or
The speaker makes us feel like only two
choices are available. In reality, there are
more.
19. Have some practice…
4. “You just can’t trust that misguided idiot.”
Answer: name-calling
The speaker attempts to make someone else
look bad by labeling him/her an “idiot.”
20. Have some practice…
5. “Money makes people arrogant.”
Answer: false cause/effect
Not all people, and not always just money.
