Ad Hominem

Attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself.E.g. "You can't trust his views on climate change because he's not a scientist."

Appeal to Authority

Relying on the opinion of a perceived authority figure rather than presenting actual evidence or reasoning.E.g. "This new medicine is endorsed by a famous doctor, so it must be effective."

Straw Man

Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.E.g. "Opponents of the new healthcare bill say we should just let people die if they can't afford treatment. That's heartless."

False Cause (Post Hoc)

Assuming that because one event followed another, the first event caused the second.E.g. "Ever since we painted the office walls blue, productivity has increased. Blue walls must boost productivity."

Circular Reasoning

Restating the conclusion in the premises without providing real support.E.g. "I'm a trustworthy person because I always tell the truth."

Appeal to Emotion

Manipulating emotions to persuade rather than relying on valid reasoning.E.g. "You should support this charity because the images of suffering children are heart-wrenching."

False Dichotomy

Presenting only two extreme options as if they are the only choices, ignoring other possibilities.E.g. "Either we ban all cars or watch our cities suffocate in pollution."

Appeal to Ignorance

Arguing that something must be true because it hasn't been proven false (or vice versa).E.g. "No one has disproven the existence of aliens, so they must be visiting Earth."

Red Herring

Introducing irrelevant information to divert attention from the main topic.E.g. "Let's not focus on the budget deficit; the real issue is national security"

Cherry Picking

Presenting only the evidence that supports an argument while ignoring contradictory evidence.E.g. In a debate about the effects of a new diet, someone presents only the success stories of individuals who lost weight on the diet, ignoring failed attempts.

Equivocation

Using the same term with multiple meanings, leading to confusion or misunderstanding.E.g. "The sign said 'fine for parking here,' so it's fine to park here."

Slippery Slope

Predicting a chain of negative events without strong evidence.E.g. "If we allow this small regulation, it's only a matter of time before we lose all our freedoms."

Appeal to Tradition

Arguing that something is true or good because it's been done for a long time.E.g. "We shouldn't change the school curriculum; we've been teaching this way for decades."

No True Scotsman

Dismissing counterexamples by modifying the definition to exclude them.E.g. "He's no athlete. No true athlete would ever refuse to train in bad weather."

Loaded Question

Asking a question with a built-in assumption.E.g. "Have you stopped cheating on exams?"

Anecdotal Fallacy

Using a personal anecdote or isolated example as evidence to support a general claim.E.g. "I know someone who ate fast food every day and never had any health problems. Fast food must not be as unhealthy as they say."

Middle Ground Fallacy

Assuming that a compromise between two extreme positions is the correct or most reasonable option.E.g. "Dr. A thinks daily exercise is important but Dr. B thinks exercise is unnecessary for well-being. Maybe exercising 3 days a week is best."

Appeal to Nature

Arguing that something is good or better because it's natural or comes from nature.E.g. "These herbal supplements are all-natural, so they must be safe and effective."

Special Pleading

Applying a double standard to a situation to avoid acknowledging a contradiction.E.g. "Everyone else needs to follow the rules, but my situation is unique, so I should be exempt."

The Fallacy of Sunk Costs

Continuing an endeavor because you've already invested time, effort, or resources into it, even if it's no longer rational to do so.E.g. "I've already spent so much time on this book, I have to finish it even though I'm not enjoying it."