In our day-to-day life, we encounter logical fallacies which are trying to persuade us or simply defeat our argument.
These logical fallacies are often used deliberately for this purpose, however, sometimes the people who use them are not aware of their nature.
They are always logically incorrect, even if they are used for well-intended reasons.
Their danger is in the fact that they can be used as a tool to manipulate the public and chances are that if you are not familiar with their use, you might have thought they are valid arguments in the past.
What are some popular examples of logical fallacies?
While there are a lot of logical fallacies out there, here are some of the more popular examples:
Ad hominem
This logical fallacy represents a personal attack. It attacks the person instead of addressing the argument itself.
Example: A young student makes a statement about how life is hard and difficult. An elderly person argues that the student is too young to know much about life or understand its meaning.
Slippery slope
This fallacy makes a bold claim that an event A will eventually lead to an event Z, as a consequence of all sorts of highly debatable and far-fetched events.
Example: You need to do your homework.
If you don’t do your homework, you will not get a good grade.
If you don’t get a good grade, you will not graduate with honours.
If you don’t graduate with honours, you will not get a good job.
If you don’t get a good job, you will not be able to pay your bills.
If you won’t be able to pay your bills, you will go to jail.
This implies, quite illogically, that if you won’t do your homework, you’ll end up in jail.
False dilemma / false dichotomy
The false dilemma or false dichotomy is very binary — it implies two options. That’s it. Black or white, one or zero, either this or that. Usually, it is not only illogical but also inaccurate and simply not true.
Example: Susan knocks on the door of her friend’s house. Mary does not answer.
Susan, illogically, makes the assumption that Mary is not home.
While this might be true, there are countless reasons why Mary is not answering the door.
Mary could be sleeping, working out while having headphones on, taking a shower, or simply ignoring the bell ring.
Straw man
The straw man fallacy is aiming to weaken or misrepresent the opponent’s argument so that it is easier to attack. Or rather, they’d attack the misrepresentation instead.
Example: Steve: I think human-caused pollution is contributing to climate change.
David: So you blame the human race for hurricanes, droughts, and forest fires?
Ad verecundiam (appeal to authority)
An Ad verecundiam, or an appeal to authority, takes place when someone claims that something is true or correct based on the statement of an authority figure that it is true.
This could be any authority figure, and it is not restricted to an authority figure or an expert that operates in the field that the statement is in.
Example: A commercial for toothpaste claims that a certain dentist says that their toothpaste is the best on the market. Or better yet, make it a cereal commercial and a famous athlete.
Circulus in Demonstrando (circular reasoning)
Circular reasoning is a logical fallacy where one supports their claim by referring to the claim itself. In other words, it happens when someone includes their conclusion as a part of the reasoning. This fallacy can also be called “begging the question”.
Example: You can easily slip on ice because ice is slippery.
Conclusion
Now you know the most popular logical fallacies and how to spot them. Next time you encounter any of these logical fallacies, you’ll know what they truly are.
Have any questions? Comment down below!
