Quick Reference Guide: Logical Fallacies

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Quick Reference Guide: Logical Fallacies By Megan McIntyre and Jessica McKee • Ad Hominem (Argument to the Person): Attacking the person instead of the argument. • Argument from Authority: Claiming to be an expert, and on that basis, to be deserving of trust. • Appeal to Authority: Using a statement taken out of context as authoritative support. • Argument from False Authority: Using an expert in a specific field as an expert in all related fields. • Appeal to Anonymous Authority: Using appeals to nonspecific groups (e.g., scientists, doctors, re- searchers, and so on). • Inflation of Conflict: Using a conflict between two authorities as a reason to dismiss their arguments and knowledge. • Argument by Dismissal: Rejecting an idea without providing a reason or explanation for its dismissal. • Argument by Emotive Language: Using emotional words that are not supported by evidence and/or are unconnected to the argument being made. • Appeal to Pity: Drawing on irrelevant personal experiences or feelings in order to produce a sympa- thetic response. • The Slippery Slope: Suggesting that a particular argument or course of action will lead to disastrous consequences without offering evidence. • Appeal to Nature: Suggesting a certain behavior or action because it is “natural.” • Argument from Ignorance: Assuming something is true because it has not been proven false. • Straw Man: Intentionally misrepresenting your opponent’s position by overexaggerating or offering a caricature of his or her argument. • False Dilemma: Assuming that there are only two options when there are in fact more. • Hasty Generalization: Drawing a broad conclusion based on a small minority. • Cum Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (With This, Therefore Because of This): Confusing correlation with causation—that is, thinking that because two things happened simultaneously, then one must have caused the other. • Red Herring: Introducing irrelevant facts or claims to detract from the actual argument. 78 Rhetoric Matters: Language and Argument in Context.

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