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Common Logical Fallacies: Definitions, Examples, and How to Spot Them

Definitions and examples of common informal fallacies such as ad hominem, straw man, false dilemma, and appeals for critical thinking.

13 cards· by GuruOwl

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  1. 01
    The Ad hominem fallacy attacks the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.
    Example: Dismissing economic policy because the proposer failed high-school math.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::AdHominem
  2. 02
    A Straw man fallacy involves misrepresenting an opponent's position to make it easier to attack.
    Example: Claiming an environmentalist wants to ban all cars when they only proposed emission standards.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::StrawMan
  3. 03
    Appeal to authority (argumentum ad verecundiam) occurs when an expert is cited outside their domain or without evidence.
    Example: Using an actor's endorsement as proof that a medical supplement works.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::AppealToAuthority
  4. 04
    A False dilemma (or false dichotomy) presents only two options when more alternatives actually exist.
    Example: 'Either we cut taxes dramatically or the economy collapses.'
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::FalseDilemma
  5. 05
    The Slippery slope fallacy asserts that a small first step will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without evidence of that inevitability.
    Example: Claiming calculator use will lead to students never learning arithmetic.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::SlipperySlope
  6. 06
    Circular reasoning (begging the question) occurs when the argument assumes the truth of the conclusion it is trying to prove.
    Example: 'The Bible is true because it is the word of God, and the Bible says it is the word of God.'
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::CircularReasoning
  7. 07
    The Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy assumes that because one event followed another, the first event caused the second.
    Example: Believing lucky socks caused a sports victory because they were worn during the game.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::PostHoc
  8. 08
    Hasty generalization involves drawing a broad conclusion from insufficient or unrepresentative evidence.
    Example: Concluding all French people are rude based on meeting two rude Parisians.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::HastyGeneralization
  9. 09
    A Red herring is a fallacy that introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue.
    Example: Shifting a debate from budget deficits to a politician's personal life.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::RedHerring
  10. 10
    The Tu quoque fallacy dismisses criticism by pointing out the critic's hypocrisy rather than addressing the argument.
    Also known as the 'you too' fallacy.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::TuQuoque
  11. 11
    Equivocation is a fallacy that exploits the ambiguity of language by using one word with two different meanings.
    Example: Using 'bank' to mean both a financial institution and a river edge in the same argument.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::Equivocation
  12. 12
    Appeal to ignorance claims that a statement must be true simply because it has not been proven false (or vice versa).
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::AppealToIgnorance
  13. 13
    What is the recommended method for defending against logical fallacies?
    Restate the argument in premise-conclusion form and evaluate if the premises are true and if the conclusion follows logically.
    This helps determine if the conclusion follows necessarily or probably from the premises.
    Flashify::LogicalFallacies::Methodology