What is a logical fallacy? Warm-Up What is a logical fallacy?

What is a fallacy? Common errors in reasoning that will undermine the validity of your argument. Fallacies can be illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points. Often they are identified because they lack evidence that supports a claim.

https://youtu.be/kIv3m2gMgUU Slippery slope a fallacy based on the premise that if A happens, eventually through a series of small steps, through B, C … X, Y, Z will happen too. If we don’t want Z to happen then A must not be allowed to occur either. This avoids engaging with the issue at hand, and instead shifts attention to extreme hypothetical situations – providing no proof that these extremes can happen. https://youtu.be/kIv3m2gMgUU

Circular reasoning When one just repeats the argument because there is no evidence of proof to back it up. Teacher tells students to do homework and students ask why they have to do homework - teacher responds by saying “because you have to do your homework, because I said so”

Ad hominem An attack on the character of the person rather than his/her opinions or claims. Your friend claims that defense is the most important part of a football team. You attack them by saying “of course you would think that, you’re on defense, you don’t run the ball. Attack the opponent not the argument

Red Herring A diversion tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them. Mom asks how student did on the math test. Student responds by talking about how well he did on last math test to avoid talking about the recent test.

Straw Man A misrepresentation, exaggeration, or fabrication of someone’s argument to make it easier to attack. Ex: Mom tells son he’s been playing too many video games. Son responds by telling mom he’ll just throw away his thousand dollar game console and game collection and sit up in his room practicing IQ tests all day.

bandwagon Threat of rejection by one’s peers is substituted for evidence in an argument. Your friend tells you they like classical music and you reply that that kind of music is for old people. They immediately change their minds and agree that it’s for old people and they don’t like it either.

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