In any debate or discussion, it’s important to be able to accurately represent and understand the arguments of the other side. However, sometimes people engage in a fallacious form of argumentation known as the “Strawman” fallacy. This involves misrepresenting or oversimplifying someone’s argument in order to make it easier to attack or dismiss. In this…
Category: Informal Fallacies
Informal fallacies are unsound arguments based on the fact that at least one of its premises is unsound. Informal fallacies may or may not use a valid logical form.
Tone Policing
In any conversation or debate, it’s important to focus on the content of what is being said, rather than how it is being said. However, there are times when people can get caught up in the delivery of a message, rather than the actual message itself. This is where the fallacy of “Tone Policing” can…
Appeal to Motive
In the realm of critical thinking, a fallacy is an error in reasoning that can undermine the validity of an argument or belief. Fallacies can take many forms, and it’s important to be able to identify them in order to make informed and rational decisions. One common fallacy is the “Appeal to Motive”, which assumes…
Cherry Picking
Cherry picking is a commonly used fallacy to win arguments or discussions. When cherry picking, usually there are many arguments both in favour or against a position, but the dismisses all arguments sake for one that is most useful to support the side of the argument that the subject favours. It is an argumentative ‘tunnel…
Canceling Hypothesis
Defending a claim by saying that it cannot be proven because the evidence is being hidden from the public. This is a fallacy called conspiracy theory, also known as canceling hypothesis fallacy. It’s associated with conspiracy theorists because this kind of claim is mainly made by them. This kind of reasoning blocks the argument from…
Appeal to Wealth (Argumentum Ad Crumenam)
Accepting an argument to be true because the person who makes it is wealthy. Also known as argumentum ad crumenam or an argument to the purse. The fallacy got its name because of the introduction of financial status in an argument. “Crumenam” is Latin for wallet. The appeal to wealth is an informal, red herring…
Appeal To Nature
A fallacious argument that states something to be good because it is natural. The appeal to nature considers something natural to be superior to something unnatural. Commonly mistaken for the naturalistic fallacy though not the same fallacy. This is an informal fallacy, that is, its problem is not to be found in the logical structure…
Kafkatrapping
The fallacy called kafkatrapping doesn’t represent an argument as much as it represents an accusation. Named after the famous Franz Kafka’s novel The Trial in which the main character is accused of an unknown crime. The only evidence is his denial of guilt. The fallacy occurs not with the accusation but with the verdict. Accusing…
Magical Thinking
The reasoning which leads a person to make a relation based on superstition is called magical thinking. It usually occurs when a connection is made between two objects or events without supporting evidence. The connection is based on unjustified beliefs, that’s why this fallacy is also superstitious thinking. The source of many fears, incorrect judgments,…
The Courtier’s Reply Fallacy
Courtier’s reply is a response to an argument by rejecting the authority of the person that makes the argument. The opponent’s experience, knowledge, and relevance in the field is denied by the person that commits this fallacy. Most often it occurs when one is criticized and without a proper defense, the courtier’s reply is used….