names and descriptions of logical fallacies
Popularity (by total correct streak): 167
Popularity (by number of users): 5
| Ad hominem | attacking the person, rather than addressing the argument itself. | |
| Ad ignorantiam | a specific belief is true because we don't know that it isn't true. | |
| Argument from authority | Stating that a claim is true because a person or group of perceived authority says it is true. | |
| Argument from final Consequences | a reversal of cause and effect | |
| Argument from Personal Incredulity | I cannot explain or understand this, therefore it cannot be true. | |
| Confusing association with causation | it assumes cause and effect for two variables simply because they are correlated | |
| Confusing currently unexplained with unexplainable | Because we do not currently have an adequate explanation for a phenomenon does not mean that it is forever unexplainable, or that it therefore defies the laws of nature or requires a paranormal explanation. | |
| False Continuum | The idea that because there is no definitive demarcation line between two extremes, that the distinction between the extremes is not real or meaningful | |
| False Dichotomy | Arbitrarily reducing a set of many possibilities to only two. | |
| Inconsistency | Applying criteria or rules to one belief, claim, argument, or position but not to others | |
| The Moving Goalpost | A method of denial arbitrarily moving the criteria for "proof" or acceptance out of range of whatever evidence currently exists. | |
| Non-Sequitur | This refers to an argument in which the conclusion does not necessarily follow from the premises. | |
| Post-hoc ergo propter hoc | A preceded B, therefore A caused B, and therefore assumes cause and effect for two events just because they are temporally related | |
| Reductio ad absurdum | It follows the form that if the premises are assumed to be true it necessarily leads to an absurd (false) conclusion and therefore one or more premises must be false. The term is now often used to refer to the abuse of this style of argument, by stretching the logic in order to force an absurd conclusion. | |
| Slippery Slope | a position is not consistent or tenable because accepting the position means that the extreme of the position must also be accepted. | |
| Straw Man | Arguing against a position which you create specifically to be easy to argue against, rather than the position actually held by those who oppose your point of view. | |
| Special pleading, or ad-hoc reasoning | the arbitrary introduction of new elements into an argument in order to fix them so that they appear valid. | |
| Tautology | an argument that utilizes circular reasoning, which means that the conclusion is also its own premise. | |
| Tu quoque | Literally, you too. This is an attempt to justify wrong action because someone else also does it. | |
| Unstated Major Premise | an argument which assumes a premise which is not explicitly stated. |
Quisition is a browser-based flashcard system that repeats old cards and introduces new ones at optimal time intervals. You can create your own card packs or use those developed by others.
