fallacies english

Red Herring

fallacy of distraction; an arguer will go off on a tangent to distract the reader from what is actually being discussed

Ad hominem

an argument aimed at the person rather than the position that person takes

Faulty/weak analogy

makes the assumption that because two things are alike in one way, they must be alike in other ways

Straw man

substituting a person's actual position or argument with a distorted, exaggerated, or misrepresented version of the position of the argument

Either/or (false dilemma)

When only two options are presented, yet others exist, and someone claims one of the two is the only possible answer

Circular reasoning

Where the reasoning is supported by the proposition and the proposition is supported by the reasoning

Hasty generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on a small sample size rather than looking at a larger form of statistical data

Post hoc ergo propter hoc (after this, therefore because of this)

makes the assumption that since event Y followed event X, event Y must have been caused by event X

Appeal to false authority

using authority to prove a point but that authority is not really an authority on that subject

Bandwagon appeal (ad poplum)

because everyone else is doing it, so should you!

Slippery slope

-When something minor is said to lead to a bigger consequence which, in turn, leads to an even bigger consequence (the connection of each event is not necessarily warranted, and with each step does appear to be less and less likely)

Genetic fallacy

basing the truth claim of an argument on the origin of its claims or premises

Begging the claim/question

when the conclusion is assumed in one of the premises (it's a form of circular reasoning)

Moral equivalence

the assumption that what ought to be is what is and that the undesirable opposes nature

Non sequitur

when the conclusion does not follow from the premises; when what is presented as evidence or reason is irrelevant or adds very little support to the conclusion

Guilt by Association

to draw an assumption that someone is guilty based on where they work, who they surround themselves with, etc.

Arguing off point/Avoiding the question

unlike red herring, arguing off point is an argument that does not address the argument at-hand, but it is not a deliberate redirection like red herring