“A sane mind should not be guilty of a logical fallacy, yet there are very fine minds incapable of following mathematical demonstrations.”
Henri Poincare
Logical fallacies: What they are and how to avoid them
Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that can make an argument seem more persuasive than it actually is. They can be used intentionally or unintentionally, but either way, they can lead to bad decisions.
There are many different types of logical fallacies, but some of the most common include:
Ad hominem: Attacking the person making the argument instead of the argument itself. For example, saying “You’re only saying that because you’re a conservative.”
Straw man: Misrepresenting the opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack. For example, saying “Climate change deniers say that the Earth is warming because of the sun’s activity, but they’re wrong. The sun has been relatively inactive for decades.”
Red herring: Introducing an irrelevant topic to distract from the main argument. For example, in a debate about abortion, saying “But what about all the children who are starving in Africa?”
False dilemma: Presenting two options as if they are the only options, when in fact there are more. For example, saying “Either you’re with us or you’re against us.”
Slippery slope: Arguing that a small step will lead to a chain of events that ends in disaster. For example, saying “Colin asserts that if we allow children to play video games, then the next thing you know we’ll be living in a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland …”
Logical fallacies can be found in all sorts of places, from news articles to political speeches to everyday conversations. It’s important to be aware of them so that you can spot them and avoid being misled.
Here are some tips for avoiding logical fallacies in your own arguments:
- Be clear about your premises and conclusions.
- Make sure that your premises support your conclusions.
- Avoid using irrelevant or emotionally charged language.
- Be open to considering other people’s arguments.
- If you’re unsure whether or not an argument contains a logical fallacy, do some research. There are many resources available online and in libraries.
By being aware of logical fallacies, you can become a more critical thinker and make better decisions.
Here are some examples of logical fallacies in the real world:
An example of the logical fallacy “appeal to emotion” is the following:
Person A: We should not donate money to this charity because their commercials are so sad. They make me feel so guilty for not doing more to help.
Person B: But is the charity actually effective? Do they use the money wisely?
Person A: I don’t know, but I just can’t stand seeing those starving children. I have to donate money.
In this example, Person A is trying to persuade Person B to donate money to a charity by appealing to their emotions of guilt and pity. Person A does not provide any evidence to show that the charity is effective or that donating money will actually help the starving children.
An example of the logical fallacy “ad hominem” is the following:
Politician: My opponent is a flip-flopper who has changed his position on this issue multiple times. You can’t trust him.
In this example, the politician is attacking the other candidate’s character instead of their policy positions. The politician does not provide any evidence to show that the other candidate’s policies are wrong. Instead, they simply dismiss the other candidate by calling them a flip-flopper.
Ad hominem arguments are often used in political debates and in advertising. They can be effective because they make it easy to attack an opponent’s character, even if that attack is irrelevant to the issue at hand.
It is important to be aware of ad hominem arguments so that you can avoid being misled. When someone is trying to persuade you, ask yourself if they are attacking the person making the argument or the argument itself. If they are attacking the person, then be careful not to let them fool you.
Here is a tip for avoiding ad hominem arguments in your own arguments:
- Focus on the argument itself, not the person making the argument.
- Avoid using personal attacks or insults.
- Be respectful of the other person, even if you disagree with them.
By following these tips, you can have more productive and informative conversations.
An example of the logical fallacy “no true Scotsman” is the following:
Person A: No true Scotsman would put sugar on his porridge.
Person B: But my grandfather is Scottish and he puts sugar on his porridge.
Person A: Well, he’s not a true Scotsman then.
In this example, Person A is moving the goalposts in order to avoid admitting that their original statement was wrong. When Person B points out that their grandfather is Scottish and puts sugar on his porridge, Person A simply redefines the term “true Scotsman” to exclude people who put sugar on their porridge.
Another example of a no true Scotsman is the following:
Person A: All dogs bark.
Person B: But my dog doesn’t bark.
Person A: Well, he’s not a real dog then.
Again, Person A is moving the goalposts in order to avoid admitting that their original statement was wrong. When Person B points out that their dog doesn’t bark, Person A simply redefines the term “real dog” to exclude dogs that don’t bark.
No true Scotsman fallacies are often used to defend prejudices and stereotypes. When someone is using a no true Scotsman fallacy, they are essentially saying that anyone who doesn’t fit their preconceived notions of a certain group is not a true member of that group.
It is important to be aware of no true Scotsman fallacies so that you can avoid being misled. When someone is trying to persuade you, ask yourself if they are moving the goalposts or redefining terms in order to avoid admitting that they are wrong. If they are, then be careful not to let them fool you.
By being aware of logical fallacies, you can become a more informed consumer of information and make better decisions about who to vote for and what products to buy.
