Logical Fallacies

Logical Fallacies

I am asked to demonstrate my understanding of nine logical fallacies. I am going to give a definition of the terms and use them in an argument in my own words. The nine terms are:

1. Mere Assertion 5. Pseudo Questions 9. Equivocation

2. Circular Reasoning 6. False Cause

3. Ad Hominem 7. Sweeping Generalizations

4. Red Herring 8. Slippery Slope

Mere Assertion- Mere Assertion is not giving up an argument even though there is no evidence to prove they are right.

Example: That man tried to argue that aliens are real. He truly believes in them. I told him they don't exist and he said I have a closed mind.

Circular Reasoning- Circular Reasoning is starting an argument and ending the argument with the same evidence.

Example: The tree in the yard will lose its leafs because the leafs in the tree will fall off. Therefore the tree in the yard will lose its leafs.

Ad Hominem- Ad Hominem is pointing out the faults of another that facing the argument.

Example: You said I was driving too fast and I said you always eat too much. This is an attempt to put the focus on you and not what I did.

Red Herring- Red Herring is a false or misleading theory to throw you off track of the argument.

Example: A serial killer is on the loose. At each crime scene he leaves finger prints of someone else. He does this to throw you off track from himself.

Pseudo Questions- Pseudo Questions are questions with no answers.

Example: Is there a god? No one can answer that question. There is no solid prove that god exist.

False Cause- False Cause is trying to argue by connecting two things.

Example: The music the boy listened to caused the boy to commit the crimes. It put the criminal thoughts in his mind.

Sweeping Generalizations- Sweeping Generalizations are things that are thought to be true by most.

Example: Having a gun in your home makes you safer. This is untrue because more people are shot on accident than stopping someone from breaking in your home.

Slippery Slope- Slippery Slope is making a statement that causes the argument to get worse. The statement would first be small than build to bigger argument.

Example: I asked my wife what a slippery slope statement would be. Then I said

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