FAL L A C IE S IN

R E A S O N IN G
E S A N A R G U ME N T FA LS E O R
Y IN R E A S O N IN G MA K
A FALLAC
UNRELIABLE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
AT THE END OF THE LESSON THE LESSON THE LEARNERS WILL BE
ABLE TO:
a.DEFINE THE DIFFERENT FALLACIES IN REASONING
b.IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT FALLACIES IN REASONING
c.GIVE EXAMPLES ON THE DIFFERENT FALLACIES IN REASONING.
d.CREATE A SHORT PLAY ON THE DIFFERENT FALLACY.
 REASONING
•THE PROCESS OF FORMING CONCLUSIONS,
JUDGMENTS, OR INFERENCES FROM FACTS OR
PREMISES. THE REASONS, ARGUMENTS,
PROOFS, ETC.
 1. BANDWAGON
•THIS A TYPE OF REASONING BASED ON POPULARITY
RATHER THAN ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OR FACTS.
•THIS GIVES ONE FEELING OF “YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY
ONE NOT DOING (OR USING) IT, SO WHY NOT JOIN NOW”
 1. BANDWAGON
•EXAMPLE:
- EVERYONE IS GOING TO OUTING, YOU SHOULD
ALSO GO.
 2. HASTY GENERALIZATION
• THIS IS REACHING A CONCLUSION WITHOUT PIECES OF
EVIDENCE OR FURTHER STUDIES.
• YOU SHOULD NOT USE AN ISOLATION TO MAKE A GENERAL
STATEMENT OR JUDGEMENT OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE.
 2. HASTY GENERALIZATION
• EXAMPLE:
- IF YOU SEE A CHINESE BEING RESPECTFUL TO AN OLDER
PERSON, YOU SHOULD NOT SAY, “CHINESE PEOPLE ARE
BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO THE ELDERLY”
 3. RED HERRING
• A RED HERRING IS AN ARGUMENT THAT
DISTRACTS THE OPPONENT AWAY FROM THE
REAL ISSUE AND LEADS THEM TO AN
IRRELEVANT ISSUE.
 4. ATTACK ON A PERSON
• THIS REASONING ATTACKS THE PERSON RATHER THAN THE
ISSUE.
• THIS HAPPENS A LOT IN POLITICS
• “IF YOU HEAR POLITICIANS ATTACKING THEIR OPPONENTS
INSTEAD OF ISSUE, BEWARE!”
 4. ATTACK ON A PERSON
• EXAMPLE:
- A LINE FROM POLITICIAN (HE IS ALWAYS LATE FOR HIS
MEETINGS. HOW DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO ADVANCE THE
PROGRESS OF THIS COUNTRY)
 5. SUNK COST
• A SUNK COST FALLACY IS WHEN SOMEONE CONTINUES DOING
SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THE EFFORT THEY ALREADY PUT IN IT,
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ADDITIONAL COSTS OUTWEIGH
THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS. "SUNK COST" IS AN ECONOMIC TERM
FOR ANY PAST EXPENSES THAT CAN NO LONGER BE RECOVERED.
 5. SUNK COST
• EXAMPLE:
-FINISHING A BORING MOVIE BECAUSE YOU’VE ALREADY
PAID FOR THE TICKET.
GROUP ACTIVITY:

•SHORT PLAY ABOUT THE

FALLACIES IN REASONING
•YOU WILL BE GROUP INTO 7.
•EACH GROUP WILL BE ASSIGNED A FALLACY.
•CREATE A SHORT PLAY ON THE ASSIGNED
FALLACY.