Published on
June 26, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
December 9, 2024
An appeal to emotion fallacy occurs when an argument circumvents logic by attempting to manipulate an audience’s feelings.
Fallacious appeals to emotion can be remarkably compelling, so they play a significant role in persuasive communication, ranging from everyday advertisements to political propaganda. They can target various feelings, both positive and negative.
Appeal to emotion fallacy exampleA politician is asked about how their policies will help combat inflation. In response, they promise that their economic plan will lead to unparalleled prosperity and job creation, focusing on a bright future and hope for improvement. They describe a future of economic growth without answering the question about their inflation-related policies.
The appeal to emotion in this case targets voters’ hopes for a better life. By focusing on pleasant imagery, the politician bypasses critical evaluation of their specific plan and its feasibility.
The appeal to emotion fallacy is also known by the Latin name argumentum ad passiones, as well as emotional appeal and appeal to feeling.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
September 20, 2024
The base rate fallacy is the tendency to focus on case-specific information and ignore comprehensive data or other background information.
This logical fallacy often takes place in the context of making probability-based decisions, but it can also affect decisions that don’t directly involve statistical data.
Base rate fallacy example in medicineA doctor diagnoses a patient with a rare disease based on a positive test result, neglecting the fact that the disease affects only 1 in 300,000 people. Despite knowing that the test produces false positives in about 10% of results, the doctor assumes that the test result is accurate in this case.
In this example, the rarity of the disease (represented by the base rate of 1 in 300,000) means that a false positive is more likely than an actual case of the disease. The doctor overlooked how rarely the disease occurs in the overall population, thus committing the base rate fallacy.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
September 24, 2024
A false cause fallacy occurs when an argument assumes a causal relationship without sufficient evidence. The term represents a category of errors related to unmerited assumptions about cause and effect.
False cause fallacy exampleA podcast host lists successful entrepreneurs who wake up at 4 a.m. and concludes that anyone who starts waking up early will become more successful in business.
False cause fallacies can lead to misguided beliefs, decisions, and actions, so it’s important to know how to identify and analyze fallacies of causation.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
July 19, 2024
The fallacy of composition is the assumption that what’s true for individual parts of something must also be true for the whole. In reality, the whole typically has distinct characteristics.
Arguments that commit this logical fallacy often result from poor reasoning rather than a deliberate attempt to mislead.
Fallacy of composition example“All the cells in this organism are microscopic, so the entire organism must be microscopic.”
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
October 29, 2024
Non sequitur fallacies, also known as formal fallacies, occur when a deductive argument has a flawed structure. In arguments that commit non sequitur fallacies, the premises don’t logically imply the conclusion, rendering the argument invalid.
Non sequitur fallacy examplePremise: All poets are writers.
Premise: Some writers are journalists.
Conclusion: Therefore, some poets have journalism degrees.
This example illustrates a type of non sequitur fallacy. The truth of the conclusion, that some poets have journalism degrees, can’t be inferred from the premises. The argument thus fails to meet the standards of deductive reasoning, in which the truth of the premises should necessitate the truth of the conclusion.
All formal fallacies can be considered non sequitur fallacies. However, the term is especially useful for formal fallacies that don’t fall into another named category.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
January 28, 2025
A false dilemma fallacy occurs when an argument falsely suggests that there are only two possibilities. False dilemmas manipulate the audience into making a choice by oversimplifying the situation.
This fallacy is often used in persuasive rhetoric to make one option seem much more appealing than the other.
False dilemma fallacy example“You either support all government policies or you leave the country.”
False dilemma fallacies are common in contexts such as politics and marketing when an audience is being pressured to make a decision.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
November 21, 2024
The no true Scotsman fallacy occurs when an argument defines a category in one way but later refines that definition, specifically for the purpose of excluding counterexamples. This tactic is used in response to evidence that directly contradicts a broad generalization.
No true Scotsman arguments allow the speaker to dismiss any evidence that conflicts with their views without honestly confronting new or conflicting information.
Example of no true Scotsman fallacyPerson A: No vegan would want to eat imitation meat.
Person B: I’m vegan, and I like eating imitation meat because it allows me to enjoy my favorite foods without harming animals.
Person A: Then you’re not a true vegan. A real vegan wouldn’t even want to remember the taste of meat.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
December 18, 2024
The genetic fallacy involves judging a claim based on its origins rather than the evidence and reasoning presented. Instead of evaluating an idea based on its merits and flaws, an argument that commits the genetic fallacy simply casts aspersions on its source.
Genetic fallacy example“Recent studies have claimed that black cumin seed has therapeutic potential, but that’s absurd. The medicinal use of the seed originates from ancient superstitious practices.”
This stance exemplifies the genetic fallacy by rejecting scientific evidence of black cumin seed (Nigella sativa) based solely on the fact that the seed was used medicinally in ancient times.
Genetic fallacies can result from poor reasoning or a disingenuous attempt to discredit an opposing position.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
September 30, 2024
Equivocation fallaciesoccur when an argument’s persuasiveness depends on the confusing use of a word that has multiple meanings. When a word is used in different ways in the same argument, and no clear distinction is made, the argument can become misleading.
Equivocation fallacy example“Our nation values freedom. That’s why we should have only state-run media. Government controlled media that aligns with our national values will keep our citizens free from foreign influences and disinformation.”
This argument commits the equivocation fallacy by conflating two meanings of being “free.” Initially the word “freedom” is used to refer to the idea of having civil liberties and not being controlled or dominated by anyone. However, the word “free” is later used in the sense of being relieved of something negative.
People may commit the equivocation fallacy intentionally, in persuasive contexts, or as a result of faulty reasoning.
Published on
June 25, 2024
by
Magedah Shabo
Revised on
November 7, 2024
The ad populum fallacy, also known as the appeal to popularity, is the mistake of arguing that a claim is true based solely on the fact that many people believe it. This fallacy appeals to innate biases that encourage us to conform to others’ opinions and behaviors.
Ad populum fallacy exampleThe Cardiff Giant, a 10-foot-tall “petrified man” statue discovered in New York in 1869, was said to be a petrified prehistoric giant. Many people believed in its authenticity solely due to its widespread popularity. However, the giant was revealed to be a carving created as a deliberate hoax.
This example of ad populum reasoning underscores how popularity alone can lead to the acceptance of a claim without sufficient evidence.
Ad populum arguments are often used to distract from a lack of substantial evidence for a claim. Examples can be found in many domains, including discussions of health, politics, and investment strategies.
