The slippery slope fallacy is the error of unjustifiably claiming that a decision will yield an extreme result. As an informal fallacy, the slippery slope fallacy renders an argument unsound.
Slippery slope fallacies can result from poor reasoning but are sometimes used deliberately as a persuasive tactic.
Continue reading: What Is Slippery Slope Fallacy? | Examples & Definition
The sunk cost fallacy is the error of persisting with a bad decision because of the misconception that changing course would invalidate previous time, money, or effort invested.
As an informal logical fallacy, the sunk cost fallacy is a type of flawed argument. As a cognitive bias, the sunk cost fallacy is a faulty decision-making process.
Reasoning that is based on the sunk cost fallacy fails to take into account that past investments of time, money, or effort are irretrievable (i.e., they are “sunk costs”). Persisting in an undesirable course of action can lead to further wasted resources, as well as missed opportunities.
Continue reading: What Is the Sunk Cost Fallacy? | Definition & Examples
A logical fallacy is a common type of error that undermines the validity or soundness of an argument. Logical fallacies include both structural errors (i.e., formal fallacies) and errors of content or context (i.e., informal fallacies).
Although logical fallacies are often based on flawed reasoning, some are also used deliberately to mislead and manipulate.
This argument exemplifies a type of logical fallacy known as an appeal to authority. The speaker avoids responding to ethical concerns about AI in law enforcement by changing the subject to an expert’s endorsement.
The ability to recognize logical fallacies is essential to developing strong critical thinking and media literacy skills. This knowledge can help us avoid both committing logical fallacies and being misled by them.
Continue reading: Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
The tu quoque fallacy occurs when someone responds to criticism by accusing the other party of inconsistency or hypocrisy. This tactic diverts attention from the original issue to an opponent’s supposed failure to follow their own principles.
Tu quoque is a form of ad hominem fallacy, meaning that it shifts focus away from the argument to the person presenting it.
Continue reading: Tu Quoque Fallacy | Examples & Definition
The post hoc fallacy is a common error in reasoning in which one event is assumed to have caused another based solely on the timing of events.
Its name is derived from the Latin phrase post hoc ergo propter hoc, meaning “after this, therefore because of this.” Arguments that commit this logical fallacy ignore every variable except the order of events, often leading to erroneous conclusions.
Post hoc errors highlight the importance of rigorous analysis. Understanding the post hoc fallacy is essential to making evidence-based decisions and policies in domains such as science, business, and politics. Recognizing this fallacy helps in distinguishing between mere correlations and actual causation, a distinction critical in research and strategic planning.
Continue reading: What Is Post Hoc Fallacy? | Examples & Definition
An either-or fallacy simplifies complex issues by presenting two choices and disregarding other possibilities. This fallacy is often used deliberately in politics, marketing, or everyday conversations as a rhetorical technique to push an audience toward a specific action or viewpoint.
Arguments that commit the either-or fallacy don’t necessarily include the words “either” or “or,” but they essentially frame an issue in an overly simplistic way by presenting only two possibilities.
The either-or fallacy, alternatively called false dilemma, false dichotomy, or false binary, leads to oversimplified conclusions that are often misleading and promote a closed-minded outlook.
Continue reading: What Is the Either-Or Fallacy? | Examples & Definition
The ecological fallacy is the error of inferring individuals’ behaviors or traits from group-level data. This logical fallacy, specific to statistical analysis, involves applying aggregate data collected for a group to specific members and failing to account for variation within the group.
In this example of the ecological fallacy, the investor overlooks the possibility of income disparity in the nation and assumes that all citizens have high purchasing power. In reality, wealth may be concentrated among a small, elite group.
The ecological fallacy is typically found in fields that use data to understand complex systems, whether they are social, economic, political, or environmental.
Continue reading: What Is Ecological Fallacy? | Definition & Examples
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.
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.
Continue reading: Appeal to Emotion Fallacy | Examples & Definition
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.
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.
Continue reading: What Is Base Rate Fallacy? | Definition & Examples
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 fallacies can lead to misguided beliefs, decisions, and actions, so it’s important to know how to identify and analyze fallacies of causation.
Continue reading: False Cause Fallacy | Examples & Definition
