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LOGICAL FALLACIES By Jennifer Lynn Abernethy
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Part I: AVOIDING THE QUESTION
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“Red Herring” INTRO OF IRRELEVANT POINT IN ARGUMENT MIGHT APPEAR TO PROVE SIDE (DOESN’T) EX: GRIZZLY BEARS CAN’T BE DANGEROUS– THEY’RE TOO CUTE.
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“Ad Hominem” ATTACK ON OPPONENT’S CHARACTER/MOTIVES DOES NOT DISPROVE OPPONENT’S ARGUMENT EX: YOUR UNCLE’S OPINION ON MURDER DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE HE WENT TO JAIL.
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“Genetic Fallacy” CONDEMNING AN ARGUMENT BECAUSE WHERE, HOW, OR WHO BEGAN IT I CANNOT WEAR A BELT BECAUSE THE MILITARY BEGAN BELTS, AND I HATE THE MILITARY.
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“Tu Quoque” (You Too) DISMISSES YOUR VIEWPOINT BECAUSE YOU ARE INCONSISTENT ABOUT IT DON’T TELL ME NOT TO SMOKE. YOU DO IT, TOO.
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“Faulty Appeal to Authority” APPEAL TO AUTHORITY OF SOMEONE WHO HAS NO SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF AREA MY CAR MECHANIC SAYS TO FIX MY COMPUTER IT’S BEST TO GIVE IT A SWIFT KICK.
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“Appeal to People” SOMEONE CLAIMS HIS VIEWPOINT IS CORRECT BECAUSE MANY AGREE WITH IT MANY PEOPLE VACATION IN FLORIDA; THEREFORE FLORIDA MUST BE THE BEST PLACE TO VACATION.
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Part II MAKING ASSUMPTIONS
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“Circular Reasoning” - “PROVING” AN ARGUMENT BY RESTATING IT - EX: P IS TRUE BECAUSE Q IS TRUE, AND Q IS TRUE BECAUSE P IS TRUE
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“Equivocation” MEANING OF A WORD IS CHANGED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ARGUMENT EX: MEANING OF “RESPONSIBLE” IN AN ARGUMENT
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“Loaded Question” SOMEONE ASKS A QUESTION WHICH ASSUMES THE ANSWER TO A SECOND QUESTION HAVE YOU STOPPED BEATING YOUR POOR DOG YET?
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“Part-to-Whole” ASSERTS THAT WHAT IS TRUE IN PART MUST BE TRUE IN WHOLE EX: IF I CAN BREAK THIS STICK, THEN I CAN BREAK A BUNCH OF STICKS.
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“Whole-to-Part” WHAT IS TRUE IN WHOLE IS TRUE IN PART EX: IF I CAN’T BREAK A BUNCH OF STICKS, I SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO BREAK ONE STICK.
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“Either-Or” ASSERTATION THAT WE MUST CHOOSE, WHEN REALLY THERE ARE MORE CHOICES. EITHER YOU’RE AN AMERICAN OR A COMMUNIST.
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Part III STATISTICAL FALLACIES
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“Hasty Generalization” GENERALIZES ABOUT A CLASS OR GROUP BASED ON SMALL SAMPLE ALL PLUMBERS ARE BRILLIANT. MINE CAN CALCULATE PI.
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“Weak Analogy” CLAIMS ITEMS WHICH HAVE ONLY MINOR SIMILARITIES ARE THE SAME CLOUD IS 75% WATER; WATERMELON IS 75% WATER. A PLANE CAN FLY THROUGH A WATERMELON.
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“Post-hoc-ergo-propter-hoc” “A” HAPPENED BEFORE “B”; THEREFORE “A” MUST HAVE CAUSED “B” THE ROOSTER CROWS EVERY MORNING. THEN THE SUN COMES UP.
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“Proof by lack of evidence” SOMETHING IS TRUE BECAUSE NOTHING DISPROVES IT NO EVIDENCE THAT LIFE DOES NOT EXIST ON OTHER PLANETS; THEREFORE WE ARE NOT ALONE.
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Part IV: PROPAGANDA
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“Appeal to Fear” SOMEONE MOVES YOU TO FEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DOING SOMETHING EX: IF YOU DON’T CONVICT THIS MAN, YOU MAY BE HIS NEXT VICTIM.
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“Appeal to Pity” URGES US TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE WE PITY HIM OR SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH HIM. EX: IF YOU GIVE ME A TICKET, I WON’T BE ABLE TO DRIVE ANYMORE, AND I HAVE A FAMILY TO FEED.
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“Bandwagon” DO SOMETHING BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT EX: PLEASE LET ME SEE THAT MOVIE. ALL MY FRIENDS’ PARENTS LET THEM SEE IT.
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“Exigency” USES A TIME LIMIT AS A REASON TO DO WHAT HE WANTS 95% OFF FOR THE NEXT WEEK. HURRY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
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“Repetition” REPEATED LOUDLY AND OFTEN ENOUGH TO HOPE THAT IT WILL BE BELIEVED EX: EAT SUGARLOOPS FOR BREAKFAST! “ FOR LUNCH! “ FOR SUPPER! “ ALL THE TIME! YOU WILL LOVE THEM”
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“Transfer” ADVERTISER ASSOCIATES OUR FEELINGS OF SOMETHING WITH SOMETHING UNRELATED EX: AVERAGE JOE DRINKS BEER AND GETS A HOT GIRL.
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“Snob Appeal” ENCOURAGES US TO THINK A PRODUCT WILL MAKE US BETTER FROM EVERYBODY ELSE EX: BUY BACON PERFUME. YOU’LL STAND OUT.
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“Appeal to Tradition” BUY A PRODUCT BECAUSE IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOMETHING OLDER EX: FORD THUNDERBIRD: YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW.
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“Appeal to Hi-Tech” URGES US TO BUY IT BECAUSE IT IS THE “LATEST THING” (ALTHOUGH NOT NECESSARLY BEST) EX: “LAUNDRY BALL” CLEANS YOUR CLOTHES WITH OUR PATENTED METHOD OF ….
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