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Logical Fallacies Field Guide

The document is a field guide to logical fallacies, outlining various types such as Ad Hominem, Straw Man, and False Dichotomy, along with examples for each. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing these fallacies in arguments, advertisements, and everyday life. The guide concludes with a tip that naming a fallacy can help defuse its impact.

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andrixb
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5 views2 pages

Logical Fallacies Field Guide

The document is a field guide to logical fallacies, outlining various types such as Ad Hominem, Straw Man, and False Dichotomy, along with examples for each. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing these fallacies in arguments, advertisements, and everyday life. The guide concludes with a tip that naming a fallacy can help defuse its impact.

Uploaded by

andrixb
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

A Field Guide to

Logical Fallacies
Spot the tricks — in arguments, ads, and everyday life

Ad Hominem
Attacking the person making the argument instead of the argument itself.
Example:
"You can't trust his climate data — he drives a gas-powered car."

Straw Man
Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.
Example:
"She said we should cut the military budget slightly." "So you want to leave us completely defenseless?"

False Dichotomy
Presenting only two options when more exist.
Example:
"You're either with us or against us."

Slippery Slope
Claiming one event will inevitably lead to extreme consequences without evidence.
Example:
"If we allow same-day voting, next thing you know elections will be a total free-for-all."

Appeal to Authority
Using an authority figure's opinion as evidence, even outside their expertise.
Example:
"Actor X says this supplement works — it must be true."

Bandwagon
Arguing something is true or good because many people believe or do it.
Example:
"Everyone is investing in this coin right now — you'd be foolish not to."

Post Hoc
Assuming that because B followed A, A must have caused B.
Example:
"I wore my lucky socks; we won the game. My socks caused the win."

Circular Reasoning
Using the conclusion as a premise in the argument.
Example:
"The Bible is true because it says so in the Bible."

Appeal to Nature
Claiming something is good because it's natural, or bad because it's artificial.
Example:
"This herbal remedy is completely natural, so it's definitely safe."

Hasty Generalization
Drawing a broad conclusion from a small or unrepresentative sample.
Example:
"I met two rude people from that city — everyone there must be unfriendly."

Red Herring
Introducing an irrelevant topic to distract from the original issue.
Example:
"Why worry about the company's pollution? Think of all the jobs we provide!"

Appeal to Emotion
Manipulating emotions instead of using valid reasoning.
Example:
"Think of the children! We can't allow this policy change."

Tip: When you spot one, name it — naming defuses it.

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