Logic 201 - Informal Fallacies

Front 1

Division

Back 1

whole to parts (attributes)

Front 2

Composition

Back 2

parts to whole (attribute)

Front 3

Amphilboly

Back 3

Conclusion depends on wrong interpretation of synactically ambiguous statement

Front 4

Equivocation

Back 4

conclusion depends on a shift in meaning, or word, or phrase.

Front 5

Suppressed Evidence

Back 5

ignoring important evidence that requires different conclusion

Front 6

False Dichotomy

Back 6

‘Either...or....’ statement hides more alternatives

Front 7

Complex Question

Back 7

Multiple questions are concealed in a single question

Front 8

Begging the Question

Back 8

circular reasoning, restate conclusion as premise, leave out key premise

Front 9

Weak Analogy

Back 9

Conclusion depends on defective analogy

Front 10

Slippery Slope

Back 10

unlikely chain reaction

Front 11

False Cause

Back 11

Conclusion depends on non-existent or minor causal connection

Front 12

Hasty Generalization

Back 12

Conclusion drawn from atypical example

Front 13

Appeal to Ignorance

Back 13

nothing is known or proved, and conclusion is drawn due to this

Front 14

Appeal to Unqualified Authority

Back 14

citing an untrustworthy authority

Front 15

Red Herring

Back 15

arguer leads reader/listener off track

Front 16

Missing the Point

Back 16

arguer draws different conclusion than what the premises support

Front 17

Straw Man

Back 17

distort argument and attack distorted argument

Front 18

Accident

Back 18

general rule applied to specific case wasn't intended to cover

Front 19

Argument against Person (tu quoque)

Back 19

hypocrite

Front 20

Argument against Person (circumstantial)

Back 20

present other arguer as predisposed to argue a certain way

Front 21

Argument against Person (abusive)

Back 21

verbally abuse other arguer

Front 22

Appeal to People (indirect)

Back 22

appeal to reader/listener's desire for security, love, respect, etc.

Front 23

Appeal to People (direct)

Back 23

arouse mob mentality

Front 24

Appeal to Pity

Back 24

elicit pity from reader/listener

Front 25

Appeal to Force

Back 25

threaten reader/listener