Common Logical Fallacies Everyone Should Know from fallacyinlogic.com
Ad Hominem
This occurs
when someone attacks directly the person making an argument rather than
criticizing the argument itself.
Straw Man
When someone
attacks a distorted version of the original argument that they themselves created
(i.e., "the straw man").
Appeal to
Authority
Asserting that
something must be true because it is backed up by someone who is (allegedly) an
authority on the subject.
Slippery
Slope
Taking an
argument from the first, sensible premise to an undesirable or extreme
conclusion via a number of hastily connected steps.
Bandwagon
The bandwagon
fallacy occurs when something is said to be true or good simply because it is
popular.
Appeal to
Ignorance
When it is said
that an argument must be true if it cannot be proven false, or false if it
cannot be proven true.
False
Dilemma
This occurs
when two choices are presented as the only possible options when, in fact,
other alternatives exist.
Hasty
Generalization
This logical
fallacy happens when a general conclusion is drawn based on a sample size that
is too small.
Red Herring
This occurs
when someone deliberately attempts to move the issue under discussion to a new,
irrelevant topic.
Appeal to
Tradition
When one claims
that something must be good or true because it has been practiced for a long
time (that is, traditionally).
