What is a fallacy?
Faulty reasoning; misleading or unsound argument
Always happens on the part of the person making the argument, not the listener.
What is the strawman fallacy?
Misrepresenting the opponent’s argument to make it easier to refute
Example: Misrepresenting the argument for free college tuition.
What does the bandwagon fallacy assert?
That a belief is true simply because many people believe it
Example: Claiming iPhones are superior because 60% of Americans own one.
Define the appeal to authority fallacy.
Presenting an authority’s opinion as true without other evidence
Example: A neighbor’s claim about vegan diets based solely on their profession.
What is the anecdotal evidence fallacy?
Substituting personal stories for logical evidence
Example: Using a cousin’s success without a diploma as proof that diplomas are unnecessary.
What is the correlation/causation fallacy?
Assuming that correlation implies causation
Example: Believing windmills cause wind because they turn when it’s windy.
What is a hasty generalization fallacy?
Drawing broad conclusions from insufficient evidence
Example: Concluding all girls are bad at math based on three low grades.
Define the sloth induction fallacy.
Refusing to accept a supported conclusion, attributing it to coincidence
Example: Dismissing a study’s findings on vape smoke and cancer as coincidence.
What is the cherry-picking fallacy?
Presenting only supporting data while ignoring contradictory evidence
Example: Highlighting only favorable traits in a dating profile.
What is the burden of proof fallacy?
Shifting the burden of proof to the opposing side
Example: Claiming ghosts exist and asking others to disprove it.
What is the no true Scotsman fallacy?
Excluding conflicting information by redefining a group
Example: Redefining what it means to be a Scotsman to exclude those who put sugar on porridge.
What is the nirvana fallacy?
Comparing a realistic solution to an unrealistic ideal
Example: Dismissing seatbelt laws because accidents will still happen.
What is a false dichotomy fallacy?
Limiting choices to only two options when more exist
Example: Claiming people are either pro-choice or anti-women.
Define an ad hominem attack.
Attacking the opponent’s character instead of their argument
Example: Dismissing someone’s argument based on their hobbies.
What is a slippery slope fallacy?
Arguing that one event will lead to a chain of future events without evidence
Example: Claiming the loss of an election will end democracy.
What is the post hoc fallacy?
Assuming that because X came before Y, X caused Y
Example: Concluding night air caused malaria based on timing.
What is circular reasoning or begging the question fallacy?
When premises assume the truth of the conclusion instead of supporting it
Example: Claiming popularity because everyone likes someone.
What is a false analogy fallacy?
Assuming two things are alike in all respects because they share some similarities
Example: Equating opposition to gun control with being a school shooter.
