Logical Fallacies MatchingOnline version EFL Logical fallacies meaning and definition by Kira Dunton 1 Logical Fallacies 2 Examples MORAL EQUIVALENCE: This fallacy compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities, suggesting that both are equally immoral. EXAMPLE: ____ STRAW MAN: This move oversimplifies an opponent's viewpoint and then attacks that hollow argument. EXAMPLE: ____ RED HERRING: This is a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding opposing arguments rather than addressing them. EXAMPLE: ____ AD POPULUM/BANDWAGON APPEAL: This is an appeal that presents what most people, or a group of people think, in order to persuade one to think the same way. Getting on the bandwagon is one such instance of an ad populum appeal. EXAMPLE: ____ AD HOMINEM: This is an attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or arguments. EXAMPLE: ____ EITHER/OR: This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices. EXAMPLE: ____ CIRCULAR ARGUMENT: This restates the argument rather than actually proving it. EXAMPLE: ____ BEGGING THE CLAIM: The conclusion that the writer should prove is validated within the claim. EXAMPLE: ____ GENETIC FALLACY: This conclusion is based on an argument that the origins of a person, idea, institute, or theory determine its character, nature, or worth. EXAMPLE: ____ POST HOC ERGO PROPTER HOC: This is a conclusion that assumes that if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B' must have caused 'A.' EXAMPLE: ____ HASTY GENERALIZATION: This is a conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence. In other words, you are rushing to a conclusion before you have all the relevant facts. EXAMPLE: ____ SLIPPERY SLOPE: This is a conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, then eventually through a series of small steps, through B, C,..., X, Y, Z will happen, too, basically equating A and Z. So, if we don't want Z to occur, A must not be allowed to occur either. EXAMPLE: ____ George Bush is a good communicator because he speaks effectively. I drank bottled water and now I am sick, so the water must have made me sick. Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies. That parking attendant who gave me a ticket is as bad as Hitler. Filthy and polluting coal should be banned. If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers. We can either stop using cars or destroy the earth. The Volkswagen Beetle is an evil car because it was originally designed by Hitler's army. The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families? If you were a true American you would support the rights of people to choose whatever vehicle they want. Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring course. People who don't support the proposed state minimum wage increase hate the poor.
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