{"id":1186,"date":"2015-09-22T13:48:39","date_gmt":"2015-09-22T12:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.venco.com.pl\/~cozy\/blog\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2015-09-22T13:48:39","modified_gmt":"2015-09-22T12:48:39","slug":"list-of-rhetological-fallacies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/u239160.webh.me\/jakisproblem.pl\/index.php\/2015\/09\/22\/list-of-rhetological-fallacies\/","title":{"rendered":"List of rhetological fallacies"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Ad hominem<\/dt>\n
Bypassing the argument by launching an irrelevant attack on the person and not their claim.
\nAnyone that says we should build the Ground Zero Mosque is an American-hating liberal.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Affirming the consequent<\/dt>\n
Assuming there\u2019s only one explanation for the observation you\u2019re making.
\nMarriage often results in the birth of children. So that\u2019s the reason why it exists.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Anecdotal evidence<\/dt>\n
Discounting evidence arrived at by systematic search or testing in favor of a few firsthand stories.
\nI\u2019m going to carry on smoking. My grandfather smoked 40 a day until he died aged 90.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to (questionable) authority<\/dt>\n
Claiming something is true because an (unqualified or untrustworthy) \u2018expert\u2019 says it is.
\nOver 400 prominent scientists and engineers dispute global warming.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to common practice<\/dt>\n
Claiming something is true because it\u2019s commonly practiced.
\nThis bank has some problems with corruption. But there\u2019s nothing going on here that doesn\u2019t go on in all the other banks.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to consequences of a belief<\/dt>\n
Arguing a belief is false because it implies something you\u2019d rather not believe.
\nThat can\u2019t be the Senator on that sextape. If it were, he\u2019d be lying about not knowing her. And he\u2019s not the kind of man who would lie.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to fear<\/dt>\n
An argument is made by increasing fear and prejudice towards the opposing side.
\nBefore you know it there will be more mosques than churches.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to flattery<\/dt>\n
Using an irrelevant compliment to slip in an unfounded claim which is accepted along with the compliment
\nIntelligent and sophisticated readers will of course recognise a fallacy like this when they read one.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to ignorance<\/dt>\n
A claim is true simply because it has not been proven false (or false because it has not been proven true.)
\nNobody has proved to me there is a God. So I know there is no God.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to money<\/dt>\n
Supposing that, if someone is rich or something is expensive, then it affects the truth of the claim.
\nIf it costs more, it must be better.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to novelty<\/dt>\n
Supposing something is better because it is new or newer.
\nAwesome! The latest version of this operating system is going to make my computer faster and better\u2026<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to pity<\/dt>\n
Attempt to induce pity to sway opponents.
\nThe former dictator is an old, dying man. It\u2019s wrong to make him stand trial for these alleged offenses.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to popular belief<\/dt>\n
Claiming something is true because the majority of people believe it.
\nMilk is essential for healthier bones.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to probability<\/dt>\n
Assuming because something could happen, it will inevitably happen.
\nThere are billions of galaxies with billions of stars in the universe. So there must be another planet with intelligent life on it.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to ridicule<\/dt>\n
Presenting the opponent\u2019s argument in a way that makes it appear absurd.
\nFaith in God is like believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to tradition<\/dt>\n
Claiming something is true because it\u2019s (apparently) always been that way.
\nMarriage is the union between man and women. Therefore gay marriage is wrong.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to wishful thinking<\/dt>\n
Suggesting a claim is true or false just because you strongly hope it is.
\nThe President wouldn\u2019t lie. He\u2019s our leader and a good American.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Biased generalising<\/dt>\n
Generalising from an unrepresentative sample to increase the strength of your argument.
\nOur website poll found that 90% of internet users oppose online piracy laws.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Burden of proof<\/dt>\n
I don\u2019t need to prove my claim \u2013 you must prove it is false.
\nI maintain long-term solar cycles are the cause of global warming. Show me I\u2019m wrong.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Circular logic<\/dt>\n
A conclusion is derived from premises based on the conclusion.
\nStripping privacy rights only matters to those with something to hide. You must have something to hide if you oppose privacy protection.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Circumstance ad hominem<\/dt>\n
Stating a claim isn\u2019t credible only because of the advocate\u2019s interest in their claim.
\nA study into the health risks of mobile phone involved mobile phone companies. Therefore, the study cannot be trusted.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Composition<\/dt>\n
Assuming that characteristics or beliefs of some or all of a group applies to the entire group.
\nRecent terrorist attacks have been carried out by Islamic groups. Therefore all terrorists are muslims.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Denying the antecedent<\/dt>\n
There isn\u2019t only one explanation for an outcome. So it\u2019s false to assume the cause based on the effect.
\nIf you get a degree, you\u2019ll get a good job. If you don\u2019t get a degree, you won\u2019t get a good job.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Division<\/dt>\n
Assuming that characteristics or beliefs of a group automatically apply to any individual member.
\nMany Conservatives wish to ban gay marriage, discredit climate change, and deny evolution. Therefore all conservatives are homophobic, anti-environment creationists.<\/em><\/dd>\n
False dilemma<\/dt>\n
Presenting two opposing options as the only two options while hiding alternatives.
\nWe\u2019re going to have to cut the education budget or go deeper into debt. We can\u2019t afford to go deeper into debt. So we\u2019ll have to cut the education budget.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Gambler\u2019s fallacy<\/dt>\n
Assuming the history of outcomes will affect future outcomes.
\nI\u2019ve flipped a coin 10 times in a row and it\u2019s been heads, therefore the next coin flip is more likely to come up tails.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Genetic fallacy<\/dt>\n
Attacking the cause or origin of a claim, rather than its substance.
\nOf course, mainstream liberal media aren\u2019t going to say Barack Obama is a Muslim.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Middle ground<\/dt>\n
Assuming because two opposing arguments have merit, the answer must lie somewhere between them.
\nI rear ended your car but I don\u2019t think I should pay for the damage. You think I should pay for all the damage. A fair compromise would be to split the bill in half.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Post hoc ergo propter hoc<\/dt>\n
Claiming that because one event followed another, it was also caused by it.
\nSince the election of the President more people than ever are unemployed. Therefore the President has damaged the economy.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Red herring<\/dt>\n
Introducing irrelevant material to the argument to distract and lead towards a different conclusion.
\nWhy should the senator account for irregularities in his expenses? After all, there are senators who have done far worse things.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Slippery slope<\/dt>\n
Assuming a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related (negative) events.
\nIf we legalize marijuana, more people will start using crack and heroin. Then we\u2019d have to legalize those too.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Special pleading<\/dt>\n
Universal principles do not apply to me or my argument.
\nNo one is above the law. But I wouldn\u2019t rat on anybody.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Spotlight<\/dt>\n
Assuming an observation from a small sample size applies to an entire group.
\nThis large shoe manufacturer employs children in sweatshops. Therefore all shoe companies are evil child-slave owners!<\/em><\/dd>\n
Straw man<\/dt>\n
Creating a distorted or simplified caricature of your opponents argument, and then arguing against that.
\nYou say Israel should stop building settlements on the West Bank in violation of treaty. So you\u2019re saying Israel doesn\u2019t have the right to be a nation? <\/em><\/dd>\n
Two wrongs make a right<\/dt>\n
Assuming that if one wrong is committed, another wrong will cancel it out.
\nSure \u2013 the conditions in this prison are cruel and dehumanising. But these inmates are criminals!<\/em><\/dd>\n
Undistributed middle<\/dt>\n
Assuming because two things share a property, that makes them the same thing.
\nA theory can mean an unproven idea. Scientists use the term evolutionary theory. Therefore evolution is an unproven idea.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to anonymous authority<\/dt>\n
Using evidence from an unnamed \u2018expert\u2019 or \u2018study\u2019 or generalised group (like \u2018scientists\u2019) to claim something is true.
\nThey say that it takes 7 years to digest chewing gum.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to incredulity<\/dt>\n
Because a claim sounds unbelievable, it must not be true.
\nThe eye is an incredibly complex biomechanical machine with thousands of interlocking parts. How could that exist without an intelligent designer?<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to nature<\/dt>\n
Making your claim seem more true by drawing a comparison with the \u201cgood\u201d natural world.
\nOf course homosexuality is unnatural. You don\u2019t same-sex animals copulating.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Begging the question<\/dt>\n
Making a claim while leaving out one or more major contributing factors that may affect the conclusion.
\nIf we label food with warning labels, it will encourage people to eat more healthily.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Cum hoc ergo propter hoc<\/dt>\n
Claiming two events that occur together must have a cause-and-effect relationship. (Correlation = cause).
\nTeenagers in gangs listen to rap music with violent themes. Rap music inspires violence in teenagers.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Relativist fallacy<\/dt>\n
Rejecting a claim because of a belief that truth is relative to a person or group.
\nThat\u2019s perhaps true for you. But it\u2019s not true for me.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Unfalsifiability<\/dt>\n
Offering a claim that cannot be proven false, because there is no way to check if it is false or not.
\nHe lied because he\u2019s possessed by demons.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Appeal to spite<\/dt>\n
Dismissing a claim by appealing to personal bias against the claimant.
\nDon\u2019t you just hate how those rich Liberal Hollywood actors go on TV to promote their agendas?<\/em><\/dd>\n
Confirmation bias<\/dt>\n
Only looking only for evidence that supports your idea while ignoring contradicting evidence.
\nIt\u2019s obvious 9-11 was a American-government led conspiracy to justify war in Iraq and Afghanistan. No plane hit the Pentagon. The Twin Towers collapse was a controlled demolition\u2026 etc.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Guilt by association<\/dt>\n
Discrediting an idea or claim by associating it with an undesirable person or group.
\nOh you want to relax the anti-terrorism laws just like the terrorists want us to do. Are you saying you support terrorism?<\/em><\/dd>\n
Hasty generalisation<\/dt>\n
Drawing a general conclusion from a tiny sample.
\nI just got cut up by the woman driver in front. Women can\u2019t drive.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Ignoring a common cause<\/dt>\n
Claiming one event must have caused the other when a third (unlooked for) event is probably the cause
\nWe had the 60s sexual revolution, and now people are dying of AIDS.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Lie<\/dt>\n
An outright untruth repeated knowingly as a fact.
\n\u201cI did not have sexual relations with that woman.\u201d<\/em><\/dd>\n
Misleading vividness<\/dt>\n
Describing an occurrence in vivid detail, even if it is a rare occurrence, to convince someone that it is a problem.
\nAfter legalising gay marriage, school libraries were required to stock same-sex literature; primary schoolchildren were given homosexual fairy stories and even manuals of explicit homosexual advocacy.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Perfectionist fallacy<\/dt>\n
Assuming that the only option on the table is perfect success, then rejecting anything that will not work perfectly.
\nWhat\u2019s the point of these anti-drunk driving ad campaigns? People are still going to drink and drive no matter what.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Suppressed evidence<\/dt>\n
Intentionally failing to use significant and relevant information which counts against one\u2019s own conclusion.
\nThis Iraqi regime possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons.<\/em><\/dd>\n
Ad hoc rescue<\/dt>\n
Trying to save a cherished belief by repeatedly revising the argument to explain away problems.
\nBut apart from better sanitation, medicine, education, irrigation, public health, roads, a freshwater system and public order\u2026 What have the Romans done for us?<\/em><\/dd>\n
Jumping to conclusions<\/dt>\n
Drawing a quick conclusion without fairly considering relevant (and easily available) evidence.
\nShe wants birth control in her medical cover \u2014 what a slut!<\/em><\/dd>\n
Sweeping generalisation<\/dt>\n
Applying a general rule too broadly.
\nThose young men rioted because they lacked morally responsible fathers.<\/em><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

\"Rhetological_fallacies\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ad hominem Bypassing the argument by launching an irrelevant attack on the person and not their claim.<\/p>\n

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