Fallacies

Front 1

False Authority

Back 1

• Not an expert or unknowledgeable about the subject
• Example: Katy Perry selling Pro Active and giving advice on it to American viewers
o She is not a doctor, dermatologist, or skin expert of any kind.

Front 2

Straw Man

Back 2

• A diversionary tactic used to draw attention away from the argument (avoiding/changing the subject)
• Example: When asked about having sexual with Miss Lewinsky, Bill Clinton responded, “I am an honorable man.”

Front 3

Ad Hominem

Back 3

• Attacks the source of an argument – not anything within the argument itself.
• Ex: Keith: Do we have to watch this show, it’s kind of stupid?
• Chelsea: Well, you’re stupid.

Front 4

Hasty Generalization

Back 4

Draws a conclusion from a sample that is too small (words such as “all” “none” “everybody” or “nobody”)
Example: All Americans are fat and lazy. Nobody uses VCRs anymore.

Front 5

Card Stacking

Back 5

• Only presents one side of the argument to favor the conclusion/outcome.
• Example: Super-Size Me, a documentary only present the bad aspects of McDonald’s.

Front 6

Post Hoc

Back 6

• If ‘B’ occurred after ‘A’ then ‘A’ must have caused ‘B’ to happen
• Example: I wore my hair in a ponytail on Wednesday, and then I was yelled at by my principal. I was yelled at because I wore a ponytail.

Front 7

Begging the Question

Back 7

• Or assuming the answer
• Example: We must encourage our youth to worship God to instill moral behavior.
o But does religion and worship actually produce moral behavior?