Understanding_Logical_Fallacies
Understanding_Logical_Fallacies
Logical fallacies are flaws in reasoning that weaken arguments. Recognizing them is essential for
1. Ad Hominem:
- Example: "You can't trust John's argument on climate change; he's not even a scientist."
2. Strawman:
- Example: "People who support space exploration want to waste billions while people starve."
4. Slippery Slope:
- Definition: Arguing that one small step will inevitably lead to a chain of related (often negative)
events.
- Example: "If we allow students to redo one assignment, soon they'll expect to redo every exam."
5. Circular Reasoning:
- Example: "Why worry about animal rights when there are so many homeless people?"
7. Hasty Generalization:
- Example: "My two uncles smoked all their lives and lived to 90. Smoking can't be that bad."
8. Appeal to Authority:
- Definition: Believing a claim is true simply because an authority figure endorses it.
- Example: "A famous actor says this diet works, so it must be effective."
These fallacies are common in everyday conversation, media, and political debates. Being able to
identify them strengthens both your arguments and your ability to evaluate others' reasoning.