Logical Fallacies What are you thinking?

Logical Fallacies EVASIONS OF LOGIC

#1 Red Herring: Introduce an unrelated idea to take attention away from the point being challenged "Argument" for making grad school requirements stricter: "I think there is great merit in making the requirements stricter for the graduate students. I recommend that you support it, too. After all, we are in a budget crisis and we do not want our salaries affected."

#1 Red Herring: Introduce an unrelated idea to take attention away from the point being challenged (Evasion) Uc

#2 Faulty Analogy: compare two things that are not alike Teaching teens about sex is like taking an alcoholic into a bar.

#2 Faulty Analogy: compare two things that are not alike See Denver’s Marilyn Manson protest rally in Bowling for Columbine

#3 Ad Hominem: attack the opponent, not the argument Obama: “There are some in Congress right now who would rather see their opponents lose than see America win— and that has to stop.” Obama slams Palin: OYxpquQ OYxpquQ

#4 Misuse of Humor: funny yet deeply critical Can’t we just impeach Clinton from the waist down?

#4 Misuse of Humor: funny yet deeply critical

#5 Begging the Question: a restatement of the main argument without an explanation or reason Those atheists are immoral individuals.

#6 Circular Reasoning: go in circles without making any relevant facts or arguments We need more space because there are too many people. Tina Fey as Sarah Palin: (Go to 1:00) yKUSG4

#7 Past belief: Saying that the solution to a problem is how people have always done or believed something “Since seniors have always had open campus, it’s wrong to close campus now!” Teenagers have always disobeyed their parents, so don’t worry about it.

#7 Past belief: Saying that the solution to a problem is how people have always done or believed something MN United for All Families ad (Addresses opposition’s past belief argument ): IrwPQ8 IrwPQ8

#8 Incorrect Fact: try to persuade by knowingly using wrong information Class sizes aren’t too large. There are only twenty students per teacher.

#9 Quote Out of Context: Quoting only part of the whole to support your argument Review reads -“Despite a truly terrific plot, Stiller’s new movie is long and tiresome.” -The Post –--> Ad reads… -“Ben Stiller’s new movie has a –‘truly terrific plot,’ according to –The Post!”

#10 Quick fix: using a catchy phrase or empty slogan to when arguing how to solve a complex problem “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” “Support the troops: Bring them home.”

#11 Either/Or: give only two possible positions in a complex situation “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” America: love it or leave it.

#11 Either/Or: give only two possible positions in a complex situation

#12 Ad Populum “ To the People ” : Appeal to the emotions of readers/ an audience A cowboy roping horses in Montana to advertise a pickup truck… “Like a rock” song Babies, cute animals, happy faces, flags, romance to advertise a car

#12 Ad Populum, “ To the People ” : Appeal to the emotions of readers/ an audience Examples: –Bandwagon –Reverse bandwagon ABOVE THE INFLUENCE TEEN CAMPAIGN 0LoCFQcSMwod4RQAPg#5 –Emotional appeal

#13 Contrary to fact (time machine): assuming a connection between past and present events that can ’ t actually be known “If he hadn’t been drinking at that party, he’d be alive today.” “If I had a better teacher last trimester, I’d be doing better this semester.”

#14 False Authority: using quotes/beliefs from a person who isn ’ t an expert Michael Jordan selling Hanes underwear. Joe Mauer says, “You can’t get better food than T.G.I. Fridays.” Johnny Depp’s support of the West Memphis Three: xFM xFM

#16 Appeal to Pity: make people feel sympathy, rather than use valid facts Please help these malnourished children of Ethiopia. Their survival depends on you. Global Warming Ad: Ts ASPCA Ad (Sarah McLachlan):

#15 Appeal to Ignorance: UFO Fallacy…If you can ’ t prove it false, it must be true I believe in flying saucers and aliens. No one has ever proved they don’t exist!

#15 Appeal to Ignorance: UFO Fallacy…If you can ’ t prove it false, it must be true

#17 Plain Folks: someone rich or famous claims to be ordinary representation of average-everyday person A politician dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt for a campaign ad John McCain (2008 presidential candidate) and “Joe the Plumber” campaign tactic Dove Real Beauty: gallery/advertising-branding/worlds-best- commercials #dove-real-beauty- sketches-4http:// gallery/advertising-branding/worlds-best- commercials #dove-real-beauty- sketches-4

#18 Snob Appeal: believe this or do this and you can be like the, the famous, the elite

#18 Snob Appeal: believe this or do this and you can be like the rich, the famous, the elite Suggests the Marines are the elite and their “word is bond”—THEIR WORD IS THE WORD.

#18 Snob Appeal: believe this or do this and you can be like the rich, the famous, the elite

#19 Hasty Generalization: base an argument on weak, generalized, insufficient evidence If we elect him, all our taxes will surely go up.

#19 Hasty Generalization: base an argument on weak, generalized, insufficient evidence Magic Fallacy:

#20 Bandwagon: everyone ’ s doing it “Join the network. Get Verizon Wireless.” “Become a part of the millions who found financial freedom with MoneySmart.”

#21 Straw Man: (aka “Aunt Sally) divert attention away from an attack by focusing on a minor but related issue People who think abortion should be banned have no respect for the rights of women. They treat them as baby-making machines. That’s so wrong. Women should have the right to decide.

#22 Non Sequitur: conclusion is not actually the result of the facts If corn bread is made from corn, and apple pie is made from apples, then what is your dog food made from?

#22 Non Sequitur: conclusion is not actually the result of the facts If you loved me, you’d sleep with me.

#23 Post Hoc: (after this; therefore) mistaking a time relationship for a causal relationship It wasn’t until I got the cat that I began having sinus trouble.

#23 Post Hoc: (after this; therefore) mistaking a time relationship for a causal relationship

#24 Oversimplification: give a simple cause to a complex effect I failed the class because the teacher didn’t like me.

#25 Composition: all, therefore one All the freshmen are nice kids. I just know that Sean Strong will be a great kid.

#26 Division: one, therefore all Officer Jones is a real jerk. I hate cops.

#27 Two wrongs make a right: argue that others are doing like you, so it must be okay (even if the action is wrong) “Why did you stop me for speeding? I was going the same speed as everybody else!” A parent whose child has plagiarized an essay says to the teacher, “Well, I know that other kids in the class did the same thing.”

Now Test Your Knowledge: What fallacies do you detect in this commercial?

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