It’s time to play Name That Fallacy!

Bill: "I like classical music and I think it is of higher quality than most modern music." Jill: "That stuff is for old people." Dave: "Yeah, only real wussies listen to that crap. Besides, Anthrax rules! It Rules!" Bill: "Well, I don't really like it that much. Anthrax is much better."

Bandwagon (aka Peer Pressure!)

The Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an "argument.”

The belief that something should be done because the majority of people do it (or wish to do it)

"You can never give anyone a break. If you do, they'll walk all over you."

Slippery Slope Fallacy

Alleging that accepting the conclusion of an opponent's argument will invariably lead to an increasing series of disastrous consequences.

McDonald’s is the best place to eat because so many people eat there and so many people don’t eat at a restaurant if its not the best place to eat.

Circular Reasoning FallacyCircular Reasoning is an attempt to support a statement by

simply repeating the statement in different or stronger terms.

  In this fallacy, the reason given is nothing more than a

restatement of the conclusion that poses as the reason for the conclusion

"A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true".

Jenna is riding her bike in her home town in Maine, minding her own business. A station wagon comes up behind her and the driver starts beeping his horn and then tries to force her off the road. As he goes by, the driver yells "get on the sidewalk where you belong!" Jenna sees that the car has Ohio plates and concludes that all Ohio drivers are jerks.

Hasty GeneralizationThis fallacy is committed when a person draws a conclusion about a population based on a small sample. People often commit Hasty Generalizations because of bias or prejudice.

A Hasty Generalization, like any fallacy, might have a true conclusion. However, as long as the reasoning is fallacious there is no reason to accept the conclusion based on that reasoning.

Luke didn't want to eat his sheep's brains with chopped liver and brussel sprouts, but his father told him to think about the poor, starving children in a third world country who weren't fortunate enough to have any food at all.

Appeal to EmotionAttempt to manipulate an emotional response in place of a valid or compelling argument.

This sort of "reasoning" is very common in politics and it serves as the basis for a large portion of modern advertising.

I know that every action we perform is determined by fate because no one has proved that we have free will.

Appeal to Ignorance

Arguer claims something has been proven based on a lack of evidence disproving it.

"A website I read said milk makes you taller. I know it's true because the website said it was."

Bare AssertionThis fallacy assumes that a statement is true because it says it is true

Only a cold-hearted Scrooge would cut this program!

Kerin would be a weak school board member. She’s a ginger and, even worse, she’s a Baptist!

Of course you would vote for that bill. You’re just a bleeding heart Liberal!

Ad hominem

An ad hominem fallacy is any kind of argument that attacks the person while ignoring the merits of his/her argument.

''Ad hominem'' is Latin for "directed toward the man (as opposed to the issue at hand)"

Ad Hominem, cont.The ad hominem fallacy involves irrelevant name calling or personal attacks as well as NOT confronting the argument.

Ad hominem attacks divert attention away from the issues.

"We've got to stop them from banning pornography. Once they start banning one form of literature, they will never stop. Next thing you know, they will be burning all the books!”

The Slippery Slope

Alleging that accepting the conclusion of an opponent's argument will invariably lead to an increasing series of dastardly consequences.

President Reagan was a great communicator because he had the knack of talking effectively to the people.

Circular Reasoning FallacyCircular Reasoning is an attempt to support a statement

by simply repeating the statement in different or stronger terms.

  In this fallacy, the reason given is nothing more than a

restatement of the conclusion that poses as the reason for the conclusion

"A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true".

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on the hit series "Bimbos and Studmuffins in the OR." You can take it from me that when you need a fast acting, effective and safe pain killer there is nothing better than MorphiDope 2000. That is my considered medical opinion.

False AuthorityDraws attention away from the evidence and leans on the popularity of someone who may have little knowledge of the issue or product

The new UltraSkinny diet will make you feel great. No longer be troubled by your weight. Enjoy the admiring stares of the opposite sex. Revel in your new freedom from fat. You will know true happiness if you try our diet!

Appeal to EmotionAttempt to manipulate an emotional response in place of a valid or compelling argument.

This sort of "reasoning" is very common in politics and it serves as the basis for a large portion of modern advertising.

Todd: He is mad right now.Kim: How do you know?Todd: Well, because he is really angry.

Circular ReasoningRestating in different words what has already been stated

May be restated as “He is mad because he is angry.”

Name 2 fallacies!Parent: It’s time go to bed.Kid: Why?Parent: Because it’s bedtime.Kid: Why?Parent: Because I said so.

Circular Reasoning and Bare Assertion

"Just like grandma used to make." –

Country Time Lemonade slogan

Appeal to Tradition

Argues “this is how it has been done in the past” as a reason for why something should continue to be done

“It’s alright for me to cheat on my taxes because everyone else does it.”

Bandwagon AppealThe Bandwagon is a fallacy in which a threat of rejection by one's peers (or peer pressure) is substituted for evidence in an "argument."

I don’t care why Conservatives really support President Bush and his policies. They’re just a bunch of reactionary, right-wing nuts.

Ad hominemAn ad hominem fallacy is any kind of argument that attacks the person while ignoring the merits of his/her argument.