Published December, 2023 [LAST UPDATED: 2024]
Video Explanations & Examples
Key Terms
ad hominem (appeal to the person) The fallacy of rejecting a claim by criticizing the person who makes it rather than the claim itself. Ad hominem means “to the man.”
appeal to emotion The fallacy of using emotions in place of relevant reasons as premises in an argument.
appeal to ignorance The fallacy of arguing that a lack of evidence proves something. In one type of this fallacy, the problem arises by thinking that a claim must be true because it hasn’t been shown to be false. In another type, the breakdown in logic comes when you argue that a claim must be false because it hasn’t been proved to be true.
appeal to pity The attempt to persuade people to accept a conclusion by evoking their pity, compassion, or empathy.
appeal to popularity (or to the masses) The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true merely because a substantial number of people believe it.
appeal to tradition The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true just because it’s part of a tradition.
apple polishing The attempt to persuade people to accept a conclusion by flattering them.
argument by analogy An argument making use of analogy, reasoning that because two or more things are similar in several respects, they must be similar in some further respect.
begging the question The fallacy of attempting to establish the conclusion of an argument by using that conclusion as a premise. Also called arguing in a circle.
burden of proof The weight of evidence or argument required by one side in a debate or disagreement.
composition The fallacy of arguing that what is true of the parts must be true of the whole. The error is thinking that the characteristics of the parts are somehow transferred to the whole, something that is not always the case.
decision-point (line-drawing) Arguing that because a line or distinction cannot be draw at any point in a process, there are no differences or gradations in that process.
Judging Theories
division The fallacy of arguing that what is true of the whole must be true of the parts. The error is thinking that characteristics of the whole must transfer to the parts or that traits of the group must be the same as traits of individuals in the group.
dysphemism Words used to convey negative attitudes or emotions in place of neutral or positive ones.
equivocation The fallacy of using a word in two different senses in an argument.
euphemism Words used to convey positive or neutral attitudes or emotions in place of more negative ones.
fallacy An argument form that is both common and defective; a recurring mistake in reasoning.
false dilemma The fallacy of asserting that there are only two alternatives to consider when there are actually more than two.
faulty analogy A defective argument by analogy.
genetic fallacy The fallacy of arguing that a claim is true or false solely because of its abstract or nonhuman origins.
hasty generalization The fallacy of drawing a conclusion about a target group based on an inadequate sample size.
innuendo Suggesting something denigrating about a person without explicitly stating it.
red herring The fallacy of deliberately raising an irrelevant issue during an argument. The basic pattern is to put forth a claim and then couple it with additional claims that may seem to support it but in fact are mere distractions.
rhetoric The use of non-argumentative, emotive words and phrases to persuade or influence an audience.
rhetorical definitions Influencing someone through an emotion-charged skewed definition.
ridicule The use of derision, sarcasm, laughter, or mockery to disparage a person or idea.
scare tactics The use of derision, sarcasm, laughter, or mockery to disparage a person or idea.
slippery slope The use of derision, sarcasm, laughter, or mockery to disparage a person or idea.
stereotyping Classifying individuals into groups according to oversimplified or prejudiced attitudes or opinions.
straw man Classifying individuals into groups according to oversimplified or prejudiced attitudes or opinions.
tu quoque A type of ad hominem fallacy that argues that a claim must be true (or false) just because the claimant is hypocritical.
two wrongs make a right Arguing that your doing something morally wrong is justified because someone else has done the same (or similar) thing.
