Common Logical Fallacies Flawed Arguments

Logical Fallacies… Flaws in an argument Often subtle Learning to recognize these will: Strengthen your own arguments Help you critique other’s arguments

Hasty Generalization A generalization based on insufficient or unrepresented evidence Deaths from drug overdoses in Metropolis have doubled over the last three years. Therefore, more Americans than ever are dying from drug abuse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWpNTNjyzr8

Non Sequitur (Does Not Follow) A conclusion that does not follow logically from preceding statements or that is based on irrelevant data. Mary loves children, so she will make an excellent school teacher. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnzFRV1LwIo

Begging the Question (Unsupported Assertion) An argument in which the writer or speaker never provides evidence to support their claim Students should not be allowed to park in lots now reserved for faculty because those lots should be for faculty only. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuOREG1gw8k

Bandwagon Appeal (Ad Populum) A claim that an idea should be accepted because a large number of people favor it or believe it to be true. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uFQAqwbwSg

Name Calling An attack on the person proposing an argument rather than on the argument itself. There isn’t proof and is misleading. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tec8N7FRYjQ

Testimonial Using the opinion of someone well known, but they may not be an expert on that subject. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoHqIXz1gX4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=400xW0I_za8

Glittering Generality Words or phrases that are vague. Often everyone can agree on its value, but may not understand what it means. The interpretation may be different than your own. (honor, change, or courage are examples) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgVzAMQsP5o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72aRSFLXlaA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or8FTdBavGE

Card Stacking The speaker only tells the audience the facts that support the point that he or she is trying to make. He or she will leave out the bad aspects. A medicine ad might neglect to tell about all of the side effects it might have. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfM9Dg7zhU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F2K_Q-7pYM

Plain Folk A Plain Folks argument is one in which the speaker presents him or herself as an Average Joe, a common person who can understand and empathize with a listener's concerns. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhF6Kr4ITNQ

Practice- What is it? Mac Duty GEICO NAVY Old Spice Obama ARMY PSY Taco Bell Nyquil eTrade Live Fit Mac- Card Stacking NAVY- testimonial ARMY- glittering generality Nyquil- Card Stacking Duty- bandwagon Old Spice- gernalization PSY-testimonial eTrade- non sequitur Geico- begging Obama- name calling Taco Bell- generalization

Identify what fallacy each of these ads are using and explain why.