Identifying Logical Fallacies

What is an ad hominem fallacy?

• Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

• Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

• That a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related events culminating in some significant impact.

Define a straw man fallacy.

• Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

• Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

• That a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related events culminating in some significant impact.

What does the slippery slope fallacy suggest?

• Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

• Attacking the person making an argument rather than the argument itself.

• That a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related events culminating in some significant impact.

Describe the bandwagon fallacy.

• The assumption that something is true or acceptable simply because it is popular or many people believe it.

• Presenting two options as the only possibilities when, in fact, more options may exist.

• Asserting that a claim is true simply because an authority figure endorses it, without presenting supporting evidence.

What does a false dilemma (or false dichotomy) fallacy entail?

• Asserting that a claim is true simply because an authority figure endorses it, without presenting supporting evidence.

• Presenting two options as the only possibilities when, in fact, more options may exist.

• The assumption that something is true or acceptable simply because it is popular or many people believe it.

If we allow students to redo tests, soon they'll expect to redo every assignment!

You can't trust his argument on climate change; he's not even a scientist. What fallacy is this?

Everyone is switching to this new phone brand; you should too! What type of fallacy is being used?

True or False: The appeal to authority fallacy means you should never trust experts.

You can't trust anything she says about healthy eating because she doesn't even have a degree in nutrition.