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Logical Fallacies: Course: Logic & Critical Thinking Course Level: Undergraduate Instructor: Fazli Subhan

This document defines and provides examples of common logical fallacies: - A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid. Examples of fallacies discussed include appeals to emotion, authority, pity, and force. - Other fallacies examined are hasty generalization, ad hominem arguments, faulty causality, poisoning the well, begging the question, straw man arguments, red herrings, false dilemmas, appeals to ignorance, and belief. - For each fallacy, the document provides a definition and real-world example to illustrate how the fallacious reasoning works. The purpose is to help readers identify and avoid logical fallacies in arguments.

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54 views33 pages

Logical Fallacies: Course: Logic & Critical Thinking Course Level: Undergraduate Instructor: Fazli Subhan

This document defines and provides examples of common logical fallacies: - A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid. Examples of fallacies discussed include appeals to emotion, authority, pity, and force. - Other fallacies examined are hasty generalization, ad hominem arguments, faulty causality, poisoning the well, begging the question, straw man arguments, red herrings, false dilemmas, appeals to ignorance, and belief. - For each fallacy, the document provides a definition and real-world example to illustrate how the fallacious reasoning works. The purpose is to help readers identify and avoid logical fallacies in arguments.

Uploaded by

Khizar Durrani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Logical Fallacies

Course: Logic & Critical Thinking


Course Level: Undergraduate
Instructor: Fazli Subhan
Fallacy is error in reasoning

An argument is fallacious if;


The premises do not support the conclusion:
The premises and conclusion are not in the same
direction:
The premises provide very weak support to the
conclusion:
The premises are not based on reason but, are based
on something else, such as; emotions, feelings,
force, ignorance, and slippery slope etc.
Examples of Fallacies
• If the Chinese government systematically kills its
unwanted orphans, then the Chinese government
is immoral. The Chinese government is indeed
immoral. Therefore, the
enowned violinist Chinese
Pinchas government
Zukerman has
systematically killsit its
said, "When unwanted
comes orphans.
to vodka, Smirnoff
plays second fiddle to none." We must
• Renownedtherefore
violinist Rashid
conclude has said,
that Smirnoff is the"When
best it
vodka available.
comes to healthcare, Surbex Z plays second fiddle
to none." We must therefore conclude that Surbex
Z is the best Medicine available.
Types of Fallacies

Ad populam (Appeal to Emotions)


An argument commits fallacy of emotions if it is
based on emotions, feelings, or enthusiasm,
instead of reason.
An appeal to emotion is a specific type
of fallacy in which one manipulates
another's emotions to win an argument.
Examples of Fallacy of appeal to
emotions
A real estate ad that shows a happy young family
with children moving into the home of their
dreams.

A political ad that shows the candidate shaking


hands with the community as he leaves church on
Sunday morning.
Appeal to Pity

An argument is fallacious if it is based on pity,


generosity, or altruism, instead of reason.
Example: Taxpayer to judge: Your Honor, I admit that I
declared thirteen children as dependents on my tax return,
even though I have only two. But if you find me guilty of
tax evasion, my reputation will be ruined. I'll probably lose
my job, my poor wife will not be able to have the
operation that she desperately needs, and my kids will
starve. Surely I am not guilty.
Fallacy of Appeal to Force

That rhetorical argument that intimidate the


listener to perform a particular course of action.
This can be done through fear or out of respect as
well.
Example: Secretary to boss: I deserve a raise in salary
for the coming year. After all, you know how friendly I am
with your wife, and I'm sure you wouldn't want her to find
out what's been going on between you and that sexpot
client of yours.
Appeal to Authority

The argument is fallacious if the arguer does not


possess appropriate, relevant, or enough
knowledge about the topic of discussion.

Example: A commercial claims that a specific brand of


cereal is the best way to start the day because athlete
Michael Jordan says that it is what he eats every day for
breakfast.
Hasty generalization

The argument commits this fallacy if the arguer


jumps to the conclusion with very limited
data/information/justifications.

Example: It is warmer this year in Peshawar as


compared to last year; therefore, global warming is
rapidly accelerating.
Ad Hominem (Argument against person)

Argument where the premises are about a person


rather than a logical reason.

Example: The Dalai Lama argues that China has no


business in Tibet and that the West should do something
about it. But the Dalai Lama just wants the Chinese to
leave so he can return as leader. Naturally he argues this
way. Therefore, we should reject his arguments.
Fallacy of Causality

When inappropriate causes are attached to certain


logical effects then the argument is fallacious.
Example: There are more laws on the books today than
ever before, and more crimes are being committed than
ever before. Therefore, to reduce crime we must eliminate
the laws.
The increase in global warming in the past decade is
because more teenagers are using hairspray.
Poisoning the well

Poisoning the well is a fallacy in which a person


attempts to place an opponent in an awkward
position from which he or she is unable to reply.

Example: The Mayor's a very good talker. Yes, talk he


can do . . . and do very well. But when it comes time for
action, that's a different matter.
Begging the question

The opinion to be proved is given as if it were


already proved. Although it needs further
clarification and proof.

Example: Global warming doesn’t exist because the


earth is not getting warmer.

Have you stopped steeling shoes from mosques?


Straw Man fallacy

An argument in which an opponent’s position is


represented as being more extreme than it actually
is, or in other words, targeting the straw in
argument rather than the main argument.
Example: People who don’t support the proposed state
minimum wage increase hate the poor.
Red Herring Fallacy

An argument intended to distract the


reader/Listener with something that is unrelated to
your subject matter.

Example: In order to really look at the problem of global


warming, we must first consider how the homeless suffer
when it is cold.
False Dilemma

This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the


argument by reducing it to only two sides or
choices.

Example: We can either stop using cars or destroy the


earth.
We either ban hairspray or the world will end.
Fallacy of Ignorance

Appeal to Ignorance occurs when a person


mistakenly believes something to be true that is
not, because he or she does not know enough
about the subject, or has not bee given enough
evidence, to know otherwise.

Example: Teams of scientists attempted over several


decades to detect the existence of life on Mars, and all
failed to do so. Therefore, life does not exist on Mars.
• Appeal to Belief
When we accept or reject something
because of the people. Rather than
because of a logical reason.

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