Hasty Generalization:

Easily spotted by the use of "always, "never," "all," "none," or similar words. Such debaters do not qualify words, they exaggerate, or they do not appear to have thought about their comments. This fallacy also occurs when there is a likelihood that an example is not representative of the whole group. Example:"All welfare recipients are lazy bums." (Back to Top)

Straw Man:

Occurs when an arguer distorts or falsifies an opponent's argument for the purpose of more easily attacking it. This often happens when someone quotes another person out of context.

Related to this is the Pseudo Question, when a question is asked based on a false premise. Example: "...so how long have you been stealing from the poor?"

Circular Reasoning:

Occurs when stating in one's proof that which one is supposed to be proving. Using slightly different words to say the same thing over and over...

Ad verecundiam:

This is an argument that appeals to revered (often dead) authority that is not familiar with the current situation. Example: "Thomas Jefferson believed in nullification of Federal Laws by the states."

Non Sequitur or Missing the Point:

When the conclusion doesn't follow the evidence. Occurs when the premises of an argument appear to lead up to one particular conclusion but then a completely different conclusion is drawn. (Back to Top)

Red Herring:

Occurs when the arguer diverts the attention of the reader or listener by changing the subject to a totally different issue.

Ad Hominem:

A fallacy that occurs when an arguer attacks the person rather than the issue. It also occurs when an arguer moves a discussion to a personal level through character assassination. Example: "My opponent is obviously a complete idiot."

Ad Populum:

This is a direct appeal to prejudice, or at best to passing popular sentiments. Less severely, this is simply an appeal to feelings or prejudices as opposed to logic. Sometimes less flatteringly called "pandering" or "jumping on the bandwagon."

Ad misericordiam:

An argument that appeals to pity. (Back to Top)

False Cause:

Occurs whenever the link between premises and conclusion depends on some connection that probably does not exist.

False Analogy:

Occurs when the differences actually outweigh the similarities when two items are compared (or vice versa if contrasted.)

Amphibology:

Occurs when the arguer misinterprets a statement that is ambiguous, and proceeds to draw a conclusion based on this faulty interpretation. This can happen when someone is quoted out of context or when an original statement is not clearly explained. Example: "He said that traffic deaths were up, therefore we shouldn't let teenagers drive."

Composition:

This is committed when the conclusion of an argument depends on the false transfer of a characteristic from the parts of something into the whole. In other words, the fallacy occurs when it is argued that because the parts have a certain characteristic, it follows that the whole has that characteristic, too. However, the situation is such that the characteristic in question cannot be legitimately transferred from parts to whole. Example: "We should abolish all welfare because I know one person who cheated the system." (Back to Top)

Suppressed Evidence:

Occurs when an arguer ignores evidence that would tend to undermine the premises of an otherwise good argument, causing it to be unsound or uncogent.

Slippery Slope:

Argument that if one event occurs, then a certain and unstoppable set of (usually bad) consequences will follow.

Post Hoc:

An argument that just because something comes first in time, it caused something that occurred after it. Example: "Because Joey forgot to put on his overcoat, he was hit by the cement truck."

Tu quoque:

A false analogy in which the individual erroneously assumes that all people should be treated alike in a given situation.

Equivocation:

Relying on the double meaning or ambiguity of words to avoid an issue or to avoid losing an argument.

Poisoning the Well:

Prejudicing the listener by evaluating the issue for them before they have a chance to judge it for themselves. (Back to Top)

Statistics Misuse:

Manipulating numbers to bolster one's argument. This is a common misuse of polling data. British Statesman Benjamin Disraeli once said: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."