logical fallacy
Flaw in argument
A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that undermines an argument's validity.
Some fallacies are formal, violating rules of logic; others are informal, relying on irrelevant appeals or misleading language.
Common examples include ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false dilemmas.
The claim that we must choose between freedom and safety is a logical fallacy.
Fake version to demolish
- ad hominemArgument targeting character
- slippery slopeArgument predicting inevitable escalation
- false dilemmaReasoning error limiting options
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
hasty generalization · red herring · post hoc · equivocation · begging the question · bandwagon · false cause · loaded question
Formal deductive argument structure
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- sophistryDeceptive reasoning
- ethosCollective moral character
- pathosPity-evoking quality
logos · persuasion · argumentation · debate · discourse · refutation · rebuttal · counterargument
Biased information for influence
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- distortionTwisting from original state
spin · half-truth · misleading · deceptive · fabrication · fact-checking · debunking · pseudoscience
Preferring belief-supporting information
- cognitive biasSystematic deviation from rationality
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
anchoring · hindsight bias · groupthink · echo chamber · rationalization · self-deception · wishful thinking · blind spot
straw man
Fake version to demolish
- ad hominemArgument targeting character
- slippery slopeArgument predicting inevitable escalation
- false dilemmaReasoning error limiting options
circular reasoning · hasty generalization · red herring · post hoc · equivocation · begging the question · bandwagon · false cause · loaded question · appeal to emotion
syllogism
Formal deductive argument structure
- dialecticLogical argument through opposition
- sophistryDeceptive reasoning
- ethosCollective moral character
pathos · logos · persuasion · argumentation · debate · discourse · refutation · rebuttal · counterargument · premise
propaganda
Biased information for influence
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
distortion · spin · half-truth · misleading · deceptive · fabrication · fact-checking · debunking · pseudoscience · conspiracy theory
confirmation bias
Preferring belief-supporting information
- cognitive biasSystematic deviation from rationality
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
partiality · anchoring · hindsight bias · groupthink · echo chamber · rationalization · self-deception · wishful thinking · blind spot · in-group bias
- reasoningreasoning, reason, inference, deductive, analysis
- logicpremise, premises, conclusion, conclusions, inference
- debate tacticsexaggeration, appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, straw man, reductio ad absurdum
- debate termsdebate, argument, reasoning, counterargument, rebuttal
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- logic puzzlessudoku, skyscraper, tapa, cave, corral
logical fallacyvalid argument
Reasoning where conclusion follows necessarily
sound argument · logical proof · mathematical proof · syllogism
logical fallacyrational thinking
Logic-based mental process
critical thinking · sound judgment · logical analysis · evidence-based reasoning · scientific method
logic, logical, illogical, logically, fallacy, fallacious, illogically, illogicality, fallibility