Argumentative Fallacies "Writers of argumentative essays must appear logical or their readers will reject their point of view. Here is a short list of some of the most common logical fallacies--that is, errors in reasoning. Check your rough drafts carefully to avoid these problems. "Students sometimes ask, 'If a logical fallacy works, why not use it? Isn't all fair in love, war, and argumentative essays?' The honest answer is maybe. It's quite true that speakers and writers do use faulty logic and irrational emotional appeals to persuade people every day (one needs only to look at television or a newspaper to see example after example after example). But the cost of the risk is high: if you do try to slide one by your readers, and they see through your trick, you will lose your credibility instantly. On the whole, it's far more effective to use logical reasoning and strong evidence to convince your readers to accept your point of view." (This excerpt taken from Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings, 10th Ed. By Jean Wyrick) Read more about logical fallacies at Stephen's Guide to Logical Fallacies |
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The Most Commonly Used Fallacies A fallacy is an often plausible argument using false or illogical reasoning. 1. Appeal to Pity (Ad Misericordiam) — an argument that appeals to another’s sympathy; not answering the argument 2. Appeal to Ignorance (Ad Ignorantum) — asserting a proposition is true because it has not been proven false 3. Arguing by Association — an argument used to promote guilt by association 4. Argument Backed by a Stick (Force; Argumentum Ad Baculum) — resorting to threat in order to have a point accepted 5. Bandwagon Appeal (Ad Populum) an argument that suggests one is correct if they go along with the “crowd” 6. Begging the Question (Circular Reasoning) — you report what is true, repeating what you believe, only in different words 7. Contradictory Premises — the points of the argument contradict each other; therefore, there is no argument 8. False Alternative (either/or syndrome) — all other possibilities, explanations, or solutions are ignored 9. False Analogy — an argument that assumes a fundamental similarity between two things that resemble each other only in part 10. False Cause (Post Hoc) — this argument equates sequence with causality:
Because Event A was followed by Event B, the first caused the second 11. Half-Truths — an argument that contains evidence that is only partly true 12. Hasty Generalization — this argument assumes “all” are the same, but there are too few instances to support such a claim 13. Hypothesis Contrary to Fact — an argument that starts with an untrue hypothesis and then tries to draw supportable conclusions from it 14. Oversimplification — an argument that makes simple of a very complex issue by using catchy phrases such as: “It all boils down to...”or “It’s a simple question of...”, etc. 15. Poisoning the Well/Personal Attack (Ad Hominem) — an argument that personally attacks another as to discredit the issue at hand 16. Red Herring — think of a stinky smoked fish dragged across the trail to throw a tracking dog off scent; an argument that tends to sidetrack everyone involved 17. Shifting the Meaning of a Key Term (There are two ways of doing this: First through Equivocation [shifting the meaning of one term] and through Amphiboly [shifting the meaning through sentence structure]) — an argument that uses the meaning of words or sentences in two different senses 18. Slippery Slope — the assumption that if one thing is allowed, it will only be the first in a downward spiral of events 19. Sweeping Generalization (Dicto Simpliciter) — an argument based on an unqualified generalization 20. Shameful Argument (Argumentum Ad Verecundium) — appealing to an authority in one field regarding something in another field in which that authority has no more standing than anyone or anything else |