Logical Fallacies Lesson

Logical Fallacies

Logical Fallacy

Parts of an argument that intentionally (purposefully) misleads others to persuade them

ILLOGICAL ways to argue- they DO NOT MAKE SENSE!

Hasty Generalization

Making assumptions about a whole group or range of cases based on a sample that is inadequate.

EX: A man died while running the Chicago Marathon. Therefore, marathon running is dangerous.

Ad Hominem

An attack on personality or character, no the argument

Red Herring

Raising a side issue that distracts the audience from the actual argument

EX: We can't worry about the environment! WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR!!!!!!!

Red Herring

Raising a side issue that distracts the audience from the actual argument

EX: We can't worry about the environment! WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR!!!!!

False Authority

Using well-known figure to sell something… except they are not an expert in what they are selling- they’re an expert in something else.

Strawman

When someone distorts or exaggerates another person’s argument, and then attacks the distorted version of the argument instead of refuting the original point.

Person 1: “Eating fruits and vegetables are good for your overall health”

Person 2: “So you want to force everyone to be a vegetarian?!”

Slippery Slope

Saying that if we allow A to happen, then eventually Z will happen… even though Z is actually unlikely to happen

EX: Paying too much for cable means you will end up in a roadside ditch

Bandwagon

Appeals to the popularity of an idea

The more popular an idea, the more valid/true it must be

EX: 60% of American's have an iPhone, therefore iPhones are the better cell phone

Post-Hoc
False Cause & Effect

Attributing a cause and effect relationship without adequate evidence

EX: My car was running fine until Felix borrowed it. Now it makes a funny noise. He must have done something to it.

Circular Reasoning/
Begging the Question

When a person supports a statement simply by repeating it in different words.

EX: My mother is always busy because she has too much to do.

Non-Sequitur

When the arguer reaches a conclusion that does not follow logically from the “proof” offered to support it.

EX: Mrs. Lewis will make Steve the baseball team captain. He is already the captain of the volleyball team.

Categorize

Options (17)

Seeing that it is dark outside makes me feel tired; darkness causes tiredness.

If I wear my lucky socks, I always win; therefore, the socks cause my victories.

Every time I eat ice cream, it rains; thus, ice cream causes rain.

I noticed that when I water my plants, they grow; watering causes growth.

After I started using a new shampoo, my hair became shinier; the shampoo must be the reason for the shine.

The argument that we should not worry about the environment because there are people who are unemployed is a distraction.

If we allow students to redo tests, next they will want to redo their entire school year.

We shouldn't focus on climate change when there are so many other pressing issues like poverty and education.

The proposal to increase funding for public transportation is irrelevant when we have crime rates to address.

Discussing the benefits of renewable energy is pointless when we have to deal with the current economic crisis.

Person A argues that we should not spend money on space exploration. Person B responds by saying that Person A wants to abandon all scientific research.

If we allow students to redo tests, soon they will expect to redo every assignment and never learn responsibility.

If we let people use their phones in class, next they'll want to use them during exams, and then there will be no learning at all.

If we allow one company to raise its prices, soon all companies will follow suit and the economy will collapse.

If we allow students to redo tests, soon they will expect to redo every assignment.

If we start allowing people to work from home, eventually no one will come to the office anymore.

If we let kids play video games, they will stop doing their homework and fail school.

Organize these logical fallacies into the right categories

Post-Hoc

Red Herring

Strawman

Slippery Slope

Open Ended

THINK: Why is it important to avoid the use of logical fallacies in your own argumentative writing?