Transcript Logical Fallacies

1. Could I receive an A for this class. If I
don't get an 'A' I won't get the
scholarship that I apply for
Appeal to pity
This line of "reasoning" is fallacious
because pity does not serve as
evidence for a claim
Just to get a scholarship does not
justify a person to be given an A –
There are other criteria to be considered
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2. All women in my family love
babies. All women love babies
Hasty generalization
Faulty logic – unqualified
A generalization. This fallacy is
committed when a person draws
a conclusion about a population
based on a sample that is not
large enough
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3. You shouldn’t accept national
health care because it is a socialist idea
Red herring
Switching to another issue to distract
from the main argument. This sort of
"reasoning" is fallacious because
merely changing the topic of
discussion hardly counts as an
argument against a claim.
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4. In a democracy the people are free
because democracies are free countries.
Begging the question
Circular argument
This sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because
simply assuming that the premise is true does
not constitute evidence for that conclusion.
Democracy = free country = free people.
Circular argument with no end.
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5. The gang members caught by the police last
night comprises immigrants from country X.
Most immigrants who work in this country
have trouble with the law and come from
country X where thievery are rampant.
Hasty generalization
Faulty logic – unqualified
Generalization. Making a
judgment based on a small
Sample.
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6. Ralph Nader was the best candidate
for president, because he was totally
better than any of the others.
Begging the question/
Circular argument
Assumption -- Nader is better than the other
candidates, conclusion -- Nader is the best. This
sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because simply
assuming that the conclusion is true (directly or
indirectly) in the premises does not constitute
evidence for that conclusion.
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7. If you don't finish your homework you
won't get a good grade. Then you won't be
able to get into the college you want. You
will end up cleaning toilets for a living.
Appeal to fear /scare tactics
It is an appeal to force or threat
instead of trying to convince
someone with facts or a logical
argument
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8. How could anyone vote for Hilary Clinton
for senator?The fact that she is married to
Clinton proves that she has no self respect.
Ad hominem
Attacking the person rather than the issue. Ad Hominem"
means "against the man" or "against the person.
Ad Hominem is a fallacy because the character,
circumstances, or actions of a person do not (in most
cases) have a bearing on the truth of the claim being made
(or the quality of the argument being made).
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9. UFO must exist because no reputable studies
have proven conclusively that they do not.
Burden of proof
Shifts
the
burden
of
proof
to
the
other
Causal fallacy
party in order to make a claim.
However, no evidence is given to
proof that UFO do exist.
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10. If you are beautiful, you could live like
this, so buy Buty-EZ and become beautiful.
Appeal to vanity/flattery
Here the appeal is to beautiful people.
This line of "reasoning" is fallacious
because the fact that flattery does not,
in general, serve as evidence that the
claim is true.
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11. State the fallacy implied
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My friends uses Linux because it makes their
PC more powerful & stable. My friend uses
Linux so must I.
Appeal to number /Bandwagon /
peer pressure
Implies something is right because
everybody believes so. This line of
"reasoning" is fallacious because
peer pressure and threat of
rejection do not constitute evidence for
rejecting a claim
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12. We can’t allow students any voice in
decision making, if we do, it wont be long
before they are in total control
Slippery slope /domino theory
No middle road is given. Assumes that
when the first action is taken, it would
subsequently follow through to the
last. Is this true?
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13. Women need to be either brilliant or
beautiful to survive in this world.
False dilemma (black or white/
either – or)
Include either…or… . Just gives two
opposite extremes instead of allowing
for other possibilities. Not all women
who survive in this world are brilliant
or beautiful.
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14. Those who favor gun-control legislation
just want to take all guns away from
responsible citizens and put them into the
hands of the criminals.
Strawman (oversimplification)
misrepresent an opponent's position to
make it easier to attack, usually by
distorting his or her views to ridiculous
extremes
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