What is a Logical Fallacy?
An Introduction to the Types of
Reasoning Errors that will
DESTROY an Argument!
How We DEFINE Logical
Fallacy
• A logical fallacy is a mistake in
reasoning that makes an argument
faulty.
• Logical Fallacies can be found in
speeches, essays, and even
advertisements! THEY’RE
EVERYWHERE!
Types & Examples
Ambiguity
Ad Hominem
• The expression used is
confusing to the audience
because it is
AMBIGUOUS– has more
than one meaning.
• EX) “Bus Driver Stops En
Route to Help Dog Bite
Victim.”
• A person’s character is
being attacked instead of
the topic at hand.
• EX) “He is so evil, and
you have no reason to
believe the lies he is
telling you.” – Person
talking about their
opponent instead of the
topic at hand
– Newspaper Headline
Example
• Is the bus driver helping
the dog bite the victim? Or
aiding the wounded, bitten
Types & Examples
Begging the
Question
• Circular reasoning is
used in a way that offers
the argument itself as
proof.
• Restating the argument in
different words
• EX) “The product is in
high demand because
everyone wants one!”
Bogus Claims
• Promising more than you
can deliver
• Ex) “I promise to have
FREE ICECREAM in the
Cafeteria during ALL
lunches!” – Student
Running for Student
Council
Types & Examples
Card Stacking
• Evidence on the opposing
side of the issue is ignored
• EX) A salesman at a used
car dealership is trying to
sell you a used car. He tells
you how great the car runs
and that you will never have
any issues with it. However,
once you purchase the car,
another employee asks if
you are interested in
purchasing a warranty on
the car in case it breaks
down.
Either-or Fallacy
• Only two choices are
offered when, really,
others exist.
• “Deep condition your
long, luscious locks with
our special Moroccan Oil
treatment... Or say
goodbye to healthy hair!”
Types & Examples
False Analogies
• Misleading comparisons
are made
• EX) “Students should
only be required to take
open-notes tests. After
all, lawyers get to use
briefs during a trial!”
– The situations compared
are not similar enough.
Lawyers in this situation
are not being tested over
how much they have
learned.
Guilt by
Association
• Attacking the beliefs of a
person because of
who/what the person is
associated with.
• EX) Sally must HATE
men because she did a
research paper on
feminism.
Types & Examples
Jumping on the
Bandwagon
• Something is right
because everyone else
does it
• “If they jumped off a
bridge, would you do it,
too?” – Angry mother
discussing peer pressure
• EX) “Try our new cigars.
Everyone is using them!”
Hasty Generalization
• Stereotyping, making
generalizations based on
poor evidence
• EX) “When visiting a
college , my student tour
guide was very rude.
Therefore, all students at
this college are rude.”
Types & Examples
Irrelevant Argument
Loaded Terms
• The conclusion made
does NOT relate to the
premise
• EX) “I am on a strict diet,
but I decided to order
soda at my favorite
restaurant, anyways.
There were free refills!”
• Use of biased diction
• Words typically have a
strong connotation
• EX) Unloaded Term:
Plant Loaded Term: Weed
– . The argument for ordering
a soda has nothing to do
with dieting.
Types & Examples
Misrepresentation
• Using or presenting
deliberate, outright LIES
• EX) Two candidates are
running for office. The
first states that he wants
to increase education
spending. The second
candidate says that his
opponent hates the
country because he is
going to cut military
spending in order to
increase spending for the
schools.
Non Sequitur
• Irrelevant evidence is
introduced in attempt to
support the argument
• EX) “Of course you will
go to your room! I am
your mother!! You WILL
do what I tell you to do!”
Types & Examples
Red Herring
• Diverting the issue with
topic that is in no way
related to the topic at
hand
• Diverts the attention of
the audience from the
original issue
• EX) In crime shows and
mystery novels, we are
often led to believe that
someone is guilty, when
in reality, they are
innocent and someone
Slippery Slope
• Failure to provide
evidence that one event
will result in a
catastrophic chain of
events
• EX) DIRECTV
commercials...
– When you have cable, you
get bored. When you get
bored, you witness
something you’re not
supposed to...
– http://www.youtube.com/wa
Types & Examples
Self-Contradiction
• Arguing two premises
that cannot both be true
• EX) “You cannot give me
this C on my project! This
is all wrong. I am always
an A student!”
Taking Issue out of
Context
• Issue is distorted when
taken out of context
• EX) A movie critic
originally stated the
following: “This movie
lacks a strong plot and
beautiful character
development.” The movie
trailer states that the critic
said the following: “...
Strong plot and beautiful
character development.”
*Ticket Out The Door*
Identify 2 Fallacies Used
*Ticket Out The Door*
Identify 3 Fallacies Used