ETHICAL

ETHICAL
FALLACIES
FALLACIES
A fallacy is a mistaken belief, particularly
FALLACY
those based on invalid arguments.

WHAT ARE Flaws in ethical appeals that inhibit the flow of

01
ETHICAL meaningful, coherent discussion and argument
FALLACIES? Unfairly advances the writer’s/speaker’s
02
(ETHOS) authority or character
 Example 1
GUILT BY
You can’t hang with him; his friends are
ASSOCIATION trouble

Example 2

Sara’s friend Amy robbed a bank;

therefore, Sara is a delinquent
Example 3
Calls someone’s character into
He is well on his way to becoming a thug,
question by examining the because he has started hanging out with
character of the person’s that thing, Robert
 AD Arguments attack a person’s character
HOMINEM rather than that person’s reasoning.

EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3

Why should we Buy a car from Jack said Susan

think a candidate me, because the didn't cheat, but he
who recently Ford dealer down is a thief, so she
divorced will keep the street is an probably did
her campaign idiot and a liar. cheat.
promises?

FALSE
AUTHORITY
Asks audiences to agree with
the writer based simply on his
or her character or authority
even if that person may not be
fully qualified to offer that
Example 1
My middle school teacher said it, so
it must be true.
Example 2
My uncle is a podiatrist, and he only
takes Sweet Valley daily chewable
vitamin C, and so should you.
 USING
AUTHORITY Occurs when someone offers
INSTEAD OF personal authority as proof.
EVIDENCE
EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2

Because I Trust me – my best

said so. friend wouldn't do
that.
 Example 1

DOGMATISM I’m the teacher, so what I

say is the only right answer.

Shuts down decision by

asserting that the writer’s
beliefs are the only
acceptable ones.
 POISONING THE Attacks the person directly rather
WELL than examining the logic of
argument.
EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2

We cannot believe the Everyone has a

Secretary of the right to their
Treasury’s claims opinion, even a
because he was fired liar like Ed.
from his job.
 Example 1

STRAWMAN Students want it all: no work and

high grades. We should not take
their evaluations seriously.
Exaggerates a characteristic
of a person or group of
people and then uses the
exaggeration to dismiss an
argument.
 THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING! :)
GROUP 7 REFERENCES
BSN 1-B
https://slideplayer.com/slide/9091315/
AUSTRIA, ERICA JOY https://slideplayer.com/slide/4058890/
TANDOC, BENILDA MAE https://slideplayer.com/slide/4059017/

WALLIS, MARTHA GLORIE