The Fallacies!

Critical Thinking: The Fallacies!

By Thomas Bolding

So what are the fallacies?

Logical fallacies are arguments that are either missing a premise or have a conclusion that doesn’t follow the premise (AKA evidence). In simple terms, a logical fallacy is the use of faulty reasoning.

This does not mean that they are not useful, simply that they do not use logic or reasoning to achieve their goal.

Someone who uses logical fallacies may be attempting to be manipulative, deceptive, or simply be ignorant.​

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Fallacy 1: Ad Hominem

Attacking one's character instead of questioning their logic.​

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Example: ​“Bolding is unfit to be a teacher because he isn’t a fan of Sparta Praha.”

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Fallacy 2: Strawman

​Attacking a position your opponent doesn't hold.

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A: I'd rather have a cat than a dog.

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B: Oh my god! Why do you hate dogs?​!

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Appeal to Ignorance

Appealing to your audiences lack of knowledge in order to justify your stance.​

​“We have no evidence that the Illuminati ever existed. Therefore, they must have been so clever they destroyed all the evidence.”

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False Dichotomy

​I call this...the ultimatum. Basically, when someone makes you believe there are only two options.

​Either you are with me or against me.

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You either love Mike Tyson or you hate him.

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Fallacy 5: Equivocation

​Using highly specific language to confuse the other side.

Basically...imagine using language that you would see in a tax form...but in argument.

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“His political party wants to spend your precious tax dollars on big government. But my political party is planning strategic federal investment in critical programs.”

Ad Hominem

Strawman

Appeal to Ignorance

False Dichotomy

Equivocation​

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Write these down!

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Multiple Choice

My tax plan will help the middle class! Senator Phil doesn't care about the middle class! He can't even manage his own marriage!

• ad hominem

• appeal to ignorance

• equivocation

• strawman

Multiple Choice

Senator Smith says that the nation should not add to the defense budget. Do we really want to leave our nation defenseless? What fallacy is this?

• ad hominem

• strawman

• equivocation

• false dichotomy

Multiple Choice

In my opinion, love is the unrequited finale of interpersonal interaction aimed towards a consesus based on two opposing needs for attraction and stability.

• equivocation

• appeal to ignorance

• strawman

• ad hominem

Multiple Choice

The way I see it, we have two options. Invade and survive, or sit idle and die.

• false dichotomy

• equivocation

• appeal to ignorance

• ad hominem

More Fallacies!

1. Red Herring

2. Appeal to Authority

3. Slippery Slope

4. Bandwagon

Using an unqualified/biased "expert" or authority figure's personal opinion as evidence to support a claim.

Ex. As Mr. Bolding once said, we are taxed too much and need reform.

Appeal to Authority

Giving a clue or piece of information that is meant to be misleading or confuse the opposition.
Ex. The topic of a debate is pollution. A speaker instead pivots and focuses on the high cost of new regulations.

Red Herring

Red Herring / Appeal to Authority

A Great Pivot FROM a Red Herring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ih1EuMLspY

Slippery Slope

Stating that relatively minor event will lead to a chain of related events.

I don't agree that we should have school uniforms. All it takes is one student to not wear the required clothing. Administration will punish them. The students will riot. The school will shut down. The students will end up on the street! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?! *Smashes table.

Bandwagon

The choice fallacy of the populist.

When appealing to the bandwagon, the arguer uses popular opinion to justify their conclusion without credible evidence.

Ex. We're gonna take Greenland. All the people want it! It'll be the greatest invasion ever. The best.

Multiple Choice

Child: I don't want to clean my room! Mom: But look at how messy your friend's room is?!

• Red Herring

• Bandwagon

• Slippery Slope

• Appeal to authority

Multiple Choice

This supplement must increase performance because Ronaldo uses it.

• Ad hominem

• Strawman

• Appeal to authority

• Appeal to Ignorance

Multiple Choice

Everyone is buying the new Iphone 17. Therefore, it must be the best phone.

• Ad Hominem

• Strawman

• Red Herring

• Bandwagon

Multiple Choice

If we let students use the internet in class, what's next? Constant scrolling? Failing?

• Appeal to Ignorance

• Red Herring

• Strawman

• Slippery Slope

Activity!

Your school has decided to entertain the idea of making school uniforms mandatory. You are scheduled to give the opening remarks for a debate (against uniforms). Through muckraking and research, you find the following background about your opponent:

1. Their family is allegedly involved in a money-laundering scandal

2. They stand to financially benefit from a contract with a uniform supplier

3. They attended a private school with uniforms and frequently claim it was “the best school in the country”

4. They have no formal training in education, child psychology, or pedagogy

5. They have publicly stated that students today are “less disciplined” than students in the past

WITH A PARTNER, write your opening remarks using fallacies covered above. We will look at 3-4 of your speeches and analyze them for the fallacies.

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Open Ended

1. Their family is allegedly involved in a money-laundering scandal

2. They stand to financially benefit from a contract with a uniform supplier

3. They attended a private school with uniforms and frequently claim it was “the best school in the country”

4. They have no formal training in education, child psychology, or pedagogy

5. They have publicly stated that students today are “less disciplined” than students in the past

HOMEWORK

At home, find...

A short video of a speech, public address or debate. During class on Friday, be prepared to state briefly what the topic of the video was, the main points of the speaker, and what fallacies they used.

The next topic in class -- Rhetoric, The Art of Persuasion.

Appeal to Emotion

Malicious Pathos

Using pathos specifically and solely to manipulate the opponent. Good use of pathos uses emotion to support a logical argument. The appeal to emotion fallacy uses emotion to replace logical argument.
Examples: I know I was speeding, but I've been having a terrible day.
If you don't vote for me, this country is going to chaos.

Appeal to Nature

An argument based on the fact that something is "natural" or "unnatural."

Appeal to Novelty

It's new!

An argument with reasoning based on something being beneficial or good solely because it is a new idea.

Fallacies Overview

Appeal to ignorance False Dichotomy
Appeal to nature Equivocation
Appeal to novelty Red Herring
Appeal to emotion Slippery Slope
Ad Hominem Bandwagon
Strawman

Open Ended

1. We are going to watch some of the State of the Union Address. While listening, take note of any fallacies you notice.

Write your ideas here.