This document defines and provides examples of common logical fallacies. It discusses 12 different types of fallacies including false dilemmas, appeal to ignorance, slippery slope, complex question, appeal to force, appeal to pity, appeal to consequences, bandwagon, attacking the person, appeal to authority, anonymous authority, and hasty generalization. Each fallacy involves making an argument or drawing a conclusion in a logically flawed or incorrect way.
2. False Dilemma
• Presents options despite the presence of multiple possibilities
It is either you will join us or you are out forever
3. Appeal to Ignorance
• Occurs when something is concluded to be true just because it is not
proven to be false or vice versa
• Since you haven't been able to prove your innocence, I must assume
you're guilty.
4. Slippery Slope
• Occurs when series of increasingly superficial and unacceptable
consequences are drawn.
• If we allow gay marriage, the next thing we know, people will want to
marry their dogs, or their cats.
5. Complex Question
• Occurs when two or more points are rolled into one and the reader is
expected to either accept or reject both at the same time.
• Have you stopped cheating on exam?
No or Yes? LOL
6. Appeal to Force
• Threat instead of reasoning
You will be kicked from home if you will not agree on our terms
7. Appeal to Pity
• Use of pity instead of logical Reasoning
You should hire me because my dad has a cancer and I am the
breadwinner of our family.
8. Appeal to Consequences
• Occurs when unpleasant consequences of believing something are
pointed out to show that the belief is false.
I just don't believe that my friend lied to me, because if she did, our
friendship would be over, and I am not ready for it to be over.
9. Bandawagon
• Valid reasoning because it’s what the majority thinks
Nearly 1 million people believe that our product is effective.
10. Attacking the Person
• Attacking the character instead of the ideas or arguments
You once lied to me. How do you expect me to believe you?
11. Appeal to Authority
• Occurs when the arguments quotes an expert who is not qualified in
the particular subject matter.
You shouldn’t ride a bike because my mom thinks it’s inappropriate for
a girl.
12. Anonymous Authority
• The authority in question is not mentioned or named
Some accounts would say that when you dream about a person, that
person is constantly thinking about you
13. Hasty Generalization
• Occurs when a sample is not significant or enough to support a
generalization about a population
Christine has a terrible experience with a boyfriend. She decides that
all boys are mean
