Logical Fallacy

Logical Fallacies

Introduction

What is a logical fallacy?

⚫A fallacy is an error of reasoning. These

are flawed statements that often sound
true

⚫Logical fallacies are often used to

strengthen an argument, but if the reader
detects them the argument can backfire,
and damage the writer’s credibility

Why study logical fallacies?

⚫ It is important to develop logical fallacy detection

skills in your own writing, as well as others’.

Think of this as “intellectual kung-fu: the art of intellectual

self defense.” (Logical Fallacies Handlist)

Types of Logical Fallacies

- 1. “Bandwagon Approach”

- “It must be cool because everyone is doing it…
- “90 percent of computer users choose Macs”
- (sometimes called Appeal to Popularity)

Types of Logical Fallacies

- 2.“Slippery Slope” - a fallacious argument built

on the supposition that a small step will lead to
a larger chain of events

Red Herring Fallacy

Attempting to redirect the argument to another issue to which the person doing the redirecting can better respond. While it is similar to the avoiding the issue fallacy, the red herring is a deliberate diversion of attention with the intention of trying to abandon the original argument.

Fallacies, continued . . .

6) Begging the question: A is true

because A is true . . . “chocolate is healthy
because it is good for you”

7) Straw Man: a fallacy of distraction – an

irrelevant conclusion (Ex: How could he
possibly cheat on his taxes? He’s such a
great father!)

Key Idea

A logical fallacy may misrepresent the issues at hand:

Fallacy	Description
Red herring	diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface relevance to the first.
​Circular Reasoning	​makes a claim and the evidence is the claim itself "It is important to use logic because logic is important."
​Bandwagon Fallacy	​the popular choice is the right choice
slippery slope fallacy	the false assumption that a small first step will necessarily lead to extreme consequences
straw man	a misrepresentation of an opponent's position that makes it easier to argue against

In conclusion, always be on the lookout
for faulty reasoning!

If you took notes and

completed the
activity, you are a
genius!

Congratulations!

Multiple Choice

What type of fallacy?

• Bandwagon

• Slippery Slope

• Red herring

Multiple Choice

What time of fallacy is this?

• Slippery slope

• Bandwagon

• red herring

Drag and Drop

Misrepresenting or exaggerating an opponent's argument in order to make it easier to attack.

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Strawman

Circular reasoning

Red herring

Hasty generalization

Drag and Drop

Introducing an irrelevant or tangential argument in order to distract from the main point or issue.

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Red herring

Appeal to authority

Ad hominem

Strawman

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of the RED HERRING fallacy?

• Son: "Wow, Dad, it's really hard to make a living on my salary." Father: "So you think that I should have to support you for the rest of your life?"

• Daughter: "I'm so hurt that Todd broke up with me, Mom." Mother: "Just think of all the starving children in Africa, honey. Your problems will seem pretty insignificant then."

• Daughter: "I'm so hurt that Todd broke up with me, Mom." Mother: "Well, you've got to forget him or forgive him."

Multiple Choice

Which fallacy involves making the conclusion that if this happens, then it will lead to a chain of events going downhill to a very unlikely and usually bad outcome?

"If you don’t do your homework, you won’t get good grades, and you won’t get into a good college, so you won’t get a good job and your life will be ruined!

• Ad hominem (personal attack)

• Hasty generalization

• Slippery slope

• Strawman

Multiple Choice

I hated the movie because it was the worst movie I ever saw.

• hasty generalization

• over-generalization

• circular reasoining

• attack the man

Multiple Choice

Mother: It’s bedtime Jane Jane: Mom, how do ants feed their babies? Mother: Don’t know dear, close your eyes now. Jane: But mama, do ant babies cry when they’re hungry?

• straw man

• False Cause/post hoc

• red herring

• hasty generalization

Multiple Choice

After Jerry said that we should put more money into education, Warren responded by saying that he was surprised that Jerry hates our country so much.

• ad hominem

• red herring

• straw man

• appeal to pity

Multiple Choice

What is this an example of?

• Sweeping Generalizations

• Bandwagon

• Loaded Language

• Circular Reasoning

Multiple Choice

What is this an example of?

• Direct Address

• Analogy

• Questions

• Rhetorical Questions

Multiple Choice

John Green is a wonderful writer because he writes so well.

• overgeneralization

• hasty generalization

• attack the man

• circular reasoning