Fallacies of Arguments

Sleight of Hand: Distraction

false dilemma

Either we pass a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget or we let deficits ruin us.

slippery slope

Now it's register hanguns. Next it will be all guns. Then they'll ban guns, and we'll be set up for a police state.

straw man

People who believe we should spend less for defense apparently believe no one will ever attack us.

Sleight Of Hand: Counterfeit

affirming the consequent

If the economy is healthy, unemployment is down. Unemployment is down. So the economy is healthy.

denying the antecedent

If she loves you, she'll marry you. She doesn't love you. So she won't marry you.

equivocation

Insane people shouldn't be punished. Someone who commits murder must be insane. So murderers should not be punished.

begging the question (petitio principii)

The Bible says God exists. Everything in the Bible is true, since God wrote it. So God does exist.

Motive in Place of Support

appeal to force (ad baculum)

If you want to keep working here, you'd better reconsider your criticisms of company policy.

appeal to pity (ad misericordiam)

I am qualified - I have some experience and I really need the money.

prejudicial language (poisoning the well)

I doubt that you would be so naive as to doubt the generally accepted fact that the finest painters were French.

Double Trouble

appeal to authority

A majority of doctors think that the morals of young people have declined.

attacking the person (ad hominem)

ad hominem abusive

Discipline is important in education. Rousseau opposed discipline, but he was a pervert.

ad hominem circumstantial

Senator Thorpe says an arms limitation treaty would be dangerous. But he's from a state that produces planes and missiles.

tu quoque

You're telling me I should drink less? You haven't been sober in a year.

Taken from:

Critical Reasoning, Understanding and Criticizing Arguments and Theories (2nd Edition) by Jerry Cederblom and David W. Paulsen, Wadsworth Publishing Company.