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FALLACIES
Definition of Fallacy
Fallacies are flaws in the way reasoning and evidence is used in an argument. Sometimes people are intentionally fallacious in order to manipulate, and sometimes they are not aware of their fallacies. As critical thinkers, we must learn to recognize these fallaciesespecially in the media, in politics, with your professors, peers, or anyone else who tries to influence/persuade you.
Fallacies of Appeal
Ad Hominem: Attacking the person instead of the argument. Appeal to Ignorance: Claiming an argument to be ignorant by shifting the burden of proof. In other words, instead of providing grounds, the person making a claim asks the opponent to prove his/her claim is wrong. Appeal to Pity/Fear: Exploitation of pathos. Ad Populum or Bandwagon: Because the majority believes it, than you should too. Reductio ad Absurdum: Extending an argument absurd lengths.
Fallacies of Logic
Circular Reasoning: assumes as one of its premises the very conclusion it sets out to establish. The person merely keeps repeating the claims. Non Sequitur: it does not necessarily follow. Theres no connective thinking linking the grounds to the conclusion drawn from the claim.
Red Herring: diversionary tactic. Transfers relevancy to another topic. We transfer attention from one thing to anotherdeliberately misleading the argument. Straw Figure: instead of attacking the actual argument, we create a scarecrow, an irrelevant and distracting issue and we easily knock it down to make ourselves look good and our opponent stupid.
Appeal to Loyalty: an action should be taken based only on the need to be loyal to the group. Tu Quoque: you too, two wrongs make a right, or common practice. Also claiming that because a person cant live up to his/her own standards, then the standards must be wrong. Hourse/Horse Laugh: responding to an argument with an expression of derision instead of a counterargument. False Consolation: arguing that someone is not really harmed because things could be worse, or pointing out what one has to be thankful for.