Logical Fallacies

An argument based on a personal attack on someone's character.

• appeal to nature

• ad hominem

• non sequitur

• bandwagon fallacy

When a source is viewed negatively because of its connection with another person or group.

• straw man argument

• ad hominem

• bandwagon fallacy

• guilt by association

Substituting a person's actual position with a misrepresented (and usually weaker) version of their argument.

• straw man argument

• appeal to nature

• non sequitur

• guilt by association

An argument that wrongly assumes there are only two possible positions.

• false dichotomy

• false causation

• appeal to nature

• hasty generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on a small sample size; a broad claim based on limited evidence.

• non sequitur

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization

An argument that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important issue.

• straw man argument

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization

"Four out of five dentists recommend Happy Glossy toothpaste. Therefore, it must be great."

• non sequitur

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization

Because everybody thinks this way, it must be right.

• hasty generalization

• circular reasoning

• guilt by association

• bandwagon fallacy

"The Senator must be wrong on the issue of taxes because he's such a jerk to the people who work for him."

• appeal to nature

• ad hominem

• non sequitur

• bandwagon fallacy

"Yes, we have safety issues in our factory. But we work really hard to make a good product."

• straw man argument

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization