Let’s see some more examples! Informal Fallacies Let’s see some more examples!

Fallacies of Relevance The conclusion is logically irrelevant to the premises: it isn’t really evidence that leads to the conclusion. Fallacies of Relevance

Arguing using a threat: “I deserve a good grade, wouldn’t you agree? If you don’t agree, I’m afraid of what might happen: I just can’t control Bruno here.” Appeal to Force

Trying to evoke an emotional response from the listener to lead them to act in your favour: “I need to pass this class in order to graduate. If I don’t graduate, my parents will kill me. Therefore, I should get a passing grade.” Appeal to Pity

Appeal to People (popularity, argumentum ad populum) Appealing to the desire to be liked, included or recognized Bandwagon: “Of course God exists. Every real American believes that.” Appeal to vanity/snobbery: “Of course you should cheat, all the cool kids are.” Appeal to Belief: “90% of those surveyed think we should not believe ________, so you should too.” Appeal to common Practice: “everyone speeds, so it isn’t wrong.” Appeal to People (popularity, argumentum ad populum)

Against the Person (Ad hominem) Attacking the source, not the argument Abusive: “He says we should spend more on…, but he is a bleeding heart, liberal, no good, cat-eating s.o.b., so his opinion is worthless.” Circumstantial: “he says we need to spend more on education, but he’s a teacher…” From hypocrisy: “you say smoking is bad, but you smoke too.” Against the Person (Ad hominem)

Attacking an oversimplified version of an opponent’s actual position. “Those who support gun control are wrong; they believe that no one should have the right to defend themselves in any situation.” Straw Man

Missing the Point / Red Herring Diverting the listener’s attention by changing the subject or drawing a slightly different conclusion than what should be. “The death penalty is the only way to punish criminals. Why? The justice system in this country has gone straight to hell – with murderers, rapists and robbers getting off scot-free!” Missing the Point / Red Herring

Drawing a conclusion based on a premise which states nothing has been shown. “No one has proved that ghosts don’t exist. Therefore, they obviously do.” Appeal to Ignorance

Hasty Generalization A very bad inductive generalization. All three of the BR students I’ve met so far are tall, so all the students here must be tall. Hasty Generalization

Stating that since A happened before B, A must have made B happen. I used Mr. Jenny’s pencil on the test that I passed, therefore, using that pen again means I’ll pass the next one. False Cause

The key premise is unsupported, and/or just repeated in the conclusion. Circular reasoning: Murderers have lost the right to live because anyone who kills another gives up that right. Begging the Question