Logical Fallacies

What are Logical Fallacies?

Logical Fallacies are common errors in reasoning. It undermines the logic of the argument. Fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant point. Logical Fallacies are often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim.

Logical Fallacies can also be liken to having cheat codes for a video game. The cheat codes can help you to quickly beat the game. It is like having a short cut.

It may be more time consuming and much more difficult to play a game without cheat codes. Similarly, as long as people don't know that you are cheating, you can be very persuasive in speech with logical fallacies.

Although Logical Fallacies have faulty reasoning, it doesn't mean that it is not effective. It can actually be very effective and persuasive, especially to the untrained ear who is not familiar with Logical Fallacies.

Watch out for these common fallacies in your own arguments and in the arguments of others.

In this book, logical fallacies and some of its examples include:

Slippery Slope

Hasty Generalization

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

Genetic Fallacy

Begging the Claim

Circular Argument

Either/Or

Ad Hominem

Ad Populum

Red Herring

Straw Man

Moral Equivalence