Logical Fallacy

1. Logical Fallacy

2. Definition • A pitfall in logic. Something that seems to be logical but, upon deeper examination, is not.

3. Different Types • Arguing in a circle • Weak analogy • Attacking the person • Presumed cause and effect • Slippery slope • Two wrongs • False dilemma

4. Different Types • Hasty generalization • Misuse of statistics • Bandwagon approach • Snob appeal • Questionable authority

5. Arguing in a circle • When you use repetition as proof “Why do you drink?” “To forget” “Forget what?” “That I’m sad.” “Sad about what?” “That I drink so much!”

6. Weak Analogy • An assumption that just because two things are similar in one way, they are similar in others. “My brother is a boy, and he picks his nose. So this boy here must pick his nose, too!”

7. Attacking the Person (Ad Hominem) • Commenting on the person (appearance, family history, race, religion, ethnicity), not what they say or do

8. Presumed Cause and Effect • Drawing a conclusion that one thing led to another without much evidence

9. Slippery Slope • Presuming a number of different effects that may not happen

10. Two Wrongs • The attempt to defend a behaviour by noting that others also behave that way • “So what if Rob Ford smokes crack? Justin Trudeau’s done pot!”

11. False Dilemma • Misrepresenting a situation by saying there are only two possible positions (either or)

12. Hasty Generalization • Making sweeping generalizations based on little evidence

13. Misuse of Statistics • Presenting stats in a biased way

14. Bandwagon Approach • Exploiting the desire to be part of the crowd

15. Snob Appeal • Convincing people they’ll be able to join an elite group

16. Appeal to Questionable Authority • Unjustifiably claiming that people in power accept your argument when they have no known reason to do so.