Logical fallicies By: Zeke Sloan

WHAT ABOUT IT? Fallacies are common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument. Fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim

What are they? Some logical fallacies are Slippery Slope, Hasty Generalization, Circular Argument/Reasoning, Either-Or Reasoning, Ad Hominem, Ad Populum, Red Herring, and False Analogy.

Slippery slope Slippery Slope: A conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, eventually B, C, D…Y, Z, will happened Example: We cannot unlock our child from the closet because if we do, she will want to roam the house. If we let her roam the house, she will want to roam the neighborhood. If she roams the neighborhood, she will get picked up by a stranger in a van, who will sell her in some other country.

Hasty generalization Hasty Generalization: This a conclusion based on narrow or insufficient evidence. Rushing to a conclusion before you have all of the information. Example: One study shows that school uniforms decrease violence in a urban high school, so if all students wear uniforms than we could decrease violence everywhere.

Circular argument Circular argument: This resets the argument other than proving it. Example: Prostitution is wrong because it has women selling themselves.

Either-or reasoning Either-Or Reasioning: This is a conclusion that polarizes the argument to only two sides. Examples: If the district cuts our music classes and English electives to balance the budget well because a school that is only good at math and science.

Ad hominem Ad Hominem: This is a attack on the arguer instead of the argument. Example: President Smith’s proposal to raise taxes is ridiculous because he had an affair with his secretary.

Ad populum Ad Populum: This is an emotional that speaks to positive or negative concepts rather than the real issue at hand. Example: A recent poll shows that a majority of people believe that marijuana should be legalized; therefore, it should be.

Red herring Red Herring: Changing the subject. Example: The level of mercury in the seafood may be unsafe, but what will the fisherman do for their families without jobs.

False analogy False Analogy: Assuming Example: Tabaco and marijuana are both the same substance that people smoke, so it doesn’t make sense that one should be legal and the other is not.