Int 322- Fallacies

Front 1

misidentification of the cause

Back 1

An error that occurs in causal situations when identification of the cause and the effect are unclear

Front 2

post hoc ergo propter hoc

Back 2

“After it, therefore because if it”; refers to situations in which, because two things occur close together in time, an assumption is made that one causes the other.

Front 3

questionable cause

Back 3

A fallacy that occurs when someone presents a causal relationship for which no real evidence exists.

Front 4

slippery slope

Back 4

A causal fallacy that asserts that one undesirable action will inevitably lead to a worse action, which will necessarily lead to a worse one still, all the way down the slippery slope to a terrible disaster at the bottom.

Front 5

appeal to authority

Back 5

A type of fallacious thinking in which the argument is intended to persuade through the appeal to various authorities with legitimate expertise in the area in which they are advising.

Front 6

appeal to fear

Back 6

An argument in which the conclusion being suggested is supported by a reason invoking fear and not by a reason that provides evidence for the conclusion.

Front 7

appeal to flattery

Back 7

A source of fallacious reasoning designed to influence the thinking of others by appealing to their vanity as a substitute for providing relevant evidence to support a point of view.

Front 8

appeal to ignorance

Back 8

An argument in which the person offering the conclusion calls upon his or her opponent to disprove the conclusion. If the opponent is unable to do so, then the conclusion is asserted to be true.

Front 9

appeal to personal attack

Back 9

A fallacy that occurs when the issues of the argument are ignored and focus is instead directed to the personal qualities of the person making the argument in an attempt to discredit the argument. Also referred to as the ad hominem argument (“to the man” rather than to the issue) or “poisoning the well.”

Front 10

appeal to pity

Back 10

An argument in which the reasons offered to support the conclusions are designed to invoke sympathy toward the person involved.

Front 11

appeal to tradition

Back 11

A misguided way of reasoning that argues that a practice or way of thinking is “better” or “right” simply because it is older, traditional, or has “always been done that way.”

Front 12

bandwagon

Back 12

A fallacy that relies on the uncritical acceptance of others’ opinions because “everyone believes it.”

Front 13

begging the question

Back 13

A circular fallacy that assumes in the premises of the argument that the conclusion about to be made is already true. Also known as “circular reasoning.”

Front 14

red herring

Back 14

A fallacy that is committed by introducing an irrelevant topic in order to divert attention for the original issue being discussed. Also known as “Smoke Screen” and “Wild Goose Chase.”

Front 15

straw man

Back 15

A fallacy in which a point of view is attacked by first creating a “straw man” version of the position and then “knocking down” the straw man created. The fallacy lies in that the straw man does not reflect an accurate representation of the position being challenged.

Front 16

two wrongs make a right

Back 16

A fallacy that attempts to justify a morally questionable action by arguing that it is a response to another wrong action, either real or imagined.