Fallacies in Argumentation

Logical Fallacies or Fallacies in Argumentation
by Matt Slick
There are different kinds of logical fallacies that people make in presenting their
positions. Below is a list of some of the major fallacies. It is a good idea to be familiar
with them so you can point them out in a discussion thereby focusing the issues where
they belong while exposing error.
It is true that during a debate on an issue if you simply point out to your "opponent" a
logical fallacy that he/she has just made, it generally gives you the upper hand. But
then, merely having the upper hand is not the goal: truth is. Nevertheless, logical
fallacies hide the truth; so pointing them out is very useful.
1.Ad Hominem - Attacking the individual instead of the argument. 1.Example: You
are so stupid your argument couldn't possibly be true.
2.Example: I figured that you couldn't possibly get it right, so I ignored your comment.
2.Appeal to Force - Telling the hearer that something bad will happen to him if he
does not accept the argument. 1.Example: If you don't want to get beaten up, you will
agree with what I say.
2.Example: Convert or die.
3.Appeal to Pity - Urging the hearer to accept the argument based upon an appeal to
emotions, sympathy, etc. 1.Example: You owe me big time because I really stuck my
neck out for you.
2.Example: Oh come on, I've been sick. That's why I missed the deadline.
4.Appeal to the Popular - Urging the hearer to accept a position because a majority
of people hold to it. 1.Example: The majority of people like soda. Therefore, soda is
good.
2.Example: Everyone else is doing it. Why shouldn't you?

5.Appeal to Tradition - Trying to get someone to accept something because it has
been done or believed for a long time. 1.Example: This is the way we've always done it.
Therefore, it is the right way.
2.Example: The Catholic church's tradition demonstrates that this doctrine is true.
6.Begging the Question - Assuming the thing to be true that you are trying to prove.
It is circular. 1.Example: God exists because the Bible says so. The Bible is inspired.
Therefore, we know that God exists.
2.Example: I am a good worker because Frank says so. How can we trust Frank?
Simple: I will vouch for him.
7.Cause and Effect - assuming that the effect is related to a cause because the events
occur together. 1.Example: When the rooster crows, the sun rises. Therefore, the
rooster causes the sun to rise.
2.Example: When the fuel light goes on in my car, I soon run out of gas. Therefore, the
fuel light causes my car to run out of gas.
8.Circular Argument - See Begging the Question
9.Fallacy of Composition - Assuming that what is true of the part is true for the
whole. 1.Example: That engine is blue. Therefore, the car is blue.
2.Example: You are weird. That means that your family is weird, too.
10.Fallacy of Division - Assuming that what is true of the whole is true for the parts.
1.Example: That car is blue. Therefore, its engine is blue.
2.Example: Your family is weird. That means that you are weird, too.
11.Fallacy of Equivocation - Using the same term in an argument in different places

but the word has different meanings. 1.Example: A bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush. Therefore, a bird is worth more than President Bush.
2.Example: Evolution states that one species can change into another. We see that cars
have evolved into different styles. Therefore, since evolution is a fact in cars, it is true in
species.
12.False Dilemma - Giving two choices when in actuality there could be more choices
possible. 1.Example: You either did knock the glass over or you did not. Which is it?
(Someone else could have knocked the glass over).
2.Example: Do you still beat your wife?
13.Genetic Fallacy - Attempting to endorse or disqualify a claim because of the origin

or irrelevant history of the claim. 1.Example: The Nazi regime developed the
Volkswagen Beetle. Therefore, you should not buy a VW Beetle because of who started
it.
2.Example: Frank just got out of jail last year; since it was his idea to start the hardware
store, I can't trust him.
14.Guilt by Association - Rejecting an argument or claim because the person

proposing it likes someone who is disliked by another. 1.Example: Hitler liked dogs.
Therefore, dogs are bad.
2.Example: Your friend is a thief. Therefore, I cannot trust you.
15.Non Sequitur - Comments or information that does not logically follow from a
premise or the conclusion. 1.Example: We know why it rained today: because I washed
my car.
2.Example: I don't care what you say. We don't need any more bookshelves. As long as
the carpet is clean, we are fine.
16.Poisoning the Well - Presenting negative information about a person before

he/she speaks so as to discredit the person's argument. 1.Example: Frank is pompous,
arrogant, and thinks he knows everything. So, let's hear what Frank has to say about the
subject.
2.Example: Don't listen to him because he is a loser.
17.Red Herring - Introducing a topic not related to the subject at hand. 1.Example: I
know your car isn't working right. But, if you had gone to the store one day earlier,
you'd not be having problems.
2.Example: I know I forgot to deposit the check into the bank yesterday. But, nothing I
do pleases you.
18.Special Pleading (double standard) - Applying a standard to another that is

different from a standard applied to oneself. 1.Example: You can't possibly understand
menopause because you are a man.
2.Example: Those rules don't apply to me since I am older than you.
19.Straw Man Argument - Producing an argument about a weaker representation of

the truth and attacking it. 1.Example: The government doesn't take care of the poor
because it doesn't have a tax specifically to support the poor.
2.Example: We know that evolution is false because we did not evolve from monkeys.
20.Category Mistake - Attributing a property to something that could not possibly

have that property. Attributing facts of one kind are attributed to another kind.
Attributing to one category that which can only be properly attributed to another.
1.Example: Blue sleeps faster than Wednesday.
2.Example: Saying logic is transcendental is like saying cars would exist if matter didn't.

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Fallacies in Argumentation

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Logical Fallacies or Fallacies in Argumentation

2.Example: Convert or die.

2.Example: Everyone else is doing it. Why shouldn't you?

8.Circular Argument - See Begging the Question

11.Fallacy of Equivocation - Using the same term in an argument in different places

2.Example: Do you still beat your wife?

13.Genetic Fallacy - Attempting to endorse or disqualify a claim because of the origin

14.Guilt by Association - Rejecting an argument or claim because the person

2.Example: Your friend is a thief. Therefore, I cannot trust you.

16.Poisoning the Well - Presenting negative information about a person before

18.Special Pleading (double standard) - Applying a standard to another that is

2.Example: Those rules don't apply to me since I am older than you.

19.Straw Man Argument - Producing an argument about a weaker representation of

20.Category Mistake - Attributing a property to something that could not possibly

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