Logical Fallacies

1. Ad Hominem Fallacy
When somebody criticizes or rejects somebody’s point of view on the basis of personal characteristics,
background, physical appearance or anything irrelevant to the argument at hand. Also known as
“mudslinging”. Common in politics.

2. Straw Man
It’s much easier to defeat your opponent’s argument when it’s made of straw. The Strawman fallacy is
named after a harmless, lifeless, scarecrow. In the straw man fallacy, someone attacks a position the
opponent doesn’t really hold.

Ex. Caroline says that she thinks her friends should not be so rude to the new girl. Jenna says that she
cannot believe that Caroline is choosing to be better friends with the new girl than the girls who have
always known her.

3. Appeal to Ignorance
Using ignorance as a major premise in support of an argument. Ignorance isn’t proof of anything except
that one doesn’t know anything.

Ex. No one has ever been able to prove that ghosts exist, so they must not be real.

4. Slippery Slope
Moving from one premise to another in a series of small steps until you reach something improbable or
extreme.

Ex. “But, you have to let me go to the party! If I don’t go to the party, I’ll be a loser with no friends. Next
thing you know I’ll end up alone and jobless living in your basement when I’m 30!”

5. Circular Argument
When a person’s argument is just repeating what they already assumed beforehand. It doesn’t arrive at
any new conclusion

Ex. You have to invite Jenna to your party because it would not be nice not to invite Jenna

6. Red Herring
An argument or subject that is introduced to distract a person from the real issue or problem.

Ex. When your mom gets your phone bill and you have gone over the limit, you begin talking to her
about how hard your math class is and how well you did on a test today.