Recognizable flaws in argument structure and inference. Excludes: Cognitive biases without an argument error, mere factual mistakes, or labeling a disputed conclusion a fallacy.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Which ad hominem subtype dismisses criticism by accusing critics of hypocrisy?
Tu quoque means you also in Latin and tries to excuse a fault by claiming opponents commit the same fault.
When does citing an expert avoid the appeal to authority fallacy?
A legitimate appeal leans on testable evidence from a qualified expert in the field, not on fame or titles alone.
What response best answers a red herring diversion in a debate?
Naming the diversion and repeating the first question keeps the debate on the claim that needs proof.
According to tradition, what quality let a smoked red herring distract hunting dogs?
Cobbett's 1807 tale credits the fish's pungent smell, though scholars find no proof trainers used it to mislead hounds.
Why is a white-coated actor in a drug ad an appeal to authority?
Advertisers dress actors as doctors because viewers trust uniforms. The costume adds no medical training or trial data.
Which logical fallacy judges an entire group from one or two encounters?
Hasty generalization leaps from a tiny sample to a broad rule, so one or two encounters cannot support a claim about everyone.
What does a circular argument assume true in order to prove the conclusion true?
A circular argument goes nowhere because the premise and conclusion say the same thing in different words.
Which reply to a city budget proposal commits an ad hominem fallacy?
An ad hominem attack targets the speaker, while a reply about costs or math engages the proposal itself.
Councilor Lee proposes shorter library hours, and Park says Lee wants closures. Which fallacy does Park commit?
Park replaces limited hours with total closure, an extreme version Lee never proposed that is easier to condemn.
Why do logicians reject "Either support the plan or hate the city" as a false dilemma?
Critics can support parts of a plan while opposing others, so love of a city allows more than two stark attitudes.