Fallacies Implicit or explicit arguments that: Ignore logic and reason Avoid addressing issues directly, reasonably, and rationally Deceptive and erroneous Often avoid truths, facts and evidence

How to Spot a Fallacy Ask your self: What is the argument? Does this make sense? Is this reasonable? Is there another explanation for the issue at hand?? Is the conclusion the only that can be made?

creating a cause & effect connection where there is no connection False Cause creating a cause & effect connection where there is no connection

False Cause Sprite

Appeals to fear are also known as Appeal to Fear Invoking fear in the audience to convince them to support or reject a claim or course of action Appeals to fear are also known as “scare tactics”

Appeal to Fear

Two Wrongs Make a Right excusing, or justifying an action because it was committed by someone else also

Two Wrongs Make a Right Last Week Tonight [13:30-15:33]

Black and White Fallacy a.k.a. Either-Or Fallacy This fallacy narrows the audience’s choice to two, or very few options. This fallacy narrows the audience’s choice to two, or very few options. This is often a false choice. The fallacy ignores other possibilities.

Black and White Fallacy

Slippery Slope a major jump to conclusions that is irrational and without convincing evidence

Slippery Slope Mean Girls

Argument From Authority def

Argument From Authority ex

Argument From Ignorance ex

Argument From Ignorance ex

Strawman Fallacy Oversimplifies and misrepresents the claim of another person to make it easier to disprove, argue against, or “knock down.”

Strawman Fallacy Person 1: We need to establish laws that make it harder for mentally ill individuals to purchase guns. Person 2: You want to take away our Second Amendment rights! You can’t do that!

Ad Hominem Insulting another person, or calling them names, as a way to get others to disagree with that person.

Ad Hominem Student: We don’t want our teachers armed. Adult: What do you know? You’re just a kid. Person 1: That’s a logical fallacy. Person 2: Your face is a logical fallacy.

Just World Fallacy Arguing that an event happened because of karma, and that it was deserved.

Just World Fallacy Person 1: That person just got hit by a car! Person 2: What goes around, comes around. Person 1: I was just fired today. Now, I won’t be able to pay my rent. Person 2: Everything happens for a reason.

Groupwork Create a print ad or commercial storyboard in which you use as many fallacies as possible. Extra Credit: The group that can successfully squeeze the most fallacies into their ad or commercial, wins.

so, the substance of the argument is never addressed Pooh Pooh Fallacy dismissing an argument either with ridicule, insult, or a wave of the hand because the argument is perceived unworthy of serious consideration so, the substance of the argument is never addressed

Pooh Pooh Fallacy Reporter: Mr. President, you say you’re an environmentalist, but you just chose an anti-environmentalist to head the EPA. Isn’t this a contradiction? President: Oh, brother! Look, why don’t you talk to me when you have a real question. Next!

a.k.a. Appeal to Hypocrisy Tu Quoque a.k.a. Appeal to Hypocrisy claims an argument isn’t valid because the person who says it isn’t exemplifying the argument

Tu Quoque Reporter: You said the environment should be protected, but you just littered on your way here. So, you can’t make the claim the environment should be protected.

We’ve never had an open-air prison before. We shouldn’t start now. Appeal to Tradition We’ve never had an open-air prison before. We shouldn’t start now.

Appeal to Tradition pointing to history to argue that nothing should change, rather than offer sound reasons for maintaining the status quo Usually accompanied with the phrases, “That’s the way’s it’s always been,” or “This is how we’ve done it for years.”