REASONINGFallacies and What They Look Like

LOGICAL FALLACIES

A fallacy is a mistake in logic or reasoning

Hurt arguments a ton

There are many different kinds of fallacies

HASTY GENERALIZATION

When the writer makes a claim based on an isolated example Example: Bob is left-handed. He is very creative. Left handed people are creative.

OVERGENERALIZATION

When the writer fails to qualify a claim and says “it is always true” instead of “it may be true” Example: Men perform better in high stress jobs.

SLIPPERY SLOPE

When the writer argues that taking one step will lead to undesirable step inevitably Example: The legalization of euthanasia will ultimately lead to our killing the homeless, the handicapped, and the elderly.

FALSE ANALOGY

When 2 cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept the claim What the police did to Rodney King was exactly like what the Nazis did to the Jews.

FALSE USE OF AUTHORITY

When the writer uses an expert in a different field then the topic to back up their point Example: If Oprah recommends She’s Come Undone, it must be a great book!

EITHER/OR REASONING

When the writer reduces the issue to only two options that are polar opposites Example: Either we choose democracy or we choose anarchy.

OVERSIMPLIFICATION

When an argument obscures or denies the complexity of the issue

Example: The welfare system’s problems can be solved if we enroll its recipients in job training programs.