Standard Addressed: 8G What Are Logical Fallacies Definition: Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that weaken arguments. They often appear persuasive but are actually flawed.
Why It Matters: Understanding logical fallacies helps you
become a better thinker and more effective communicator. Hasty Generalization: A logical fallacy that occurs when someone makes a broad or sweeping statement based on insufficient evidence.
Example: Claiming that smokers have a high life expectancy based on the fact that your uncle smoked cigarettes and lived into his nineties. False Dilemma A logical fallacy that claims only two extreme options are possible, ignoring the fact that there are other alternatives.
Example: Teacher: "Either you complete this assignment perfectly, or you're going to fail the entire class." This fallacy falsely limits the situation to two extreme outcomes, when in reality, there are other possibilities—like earning partial credit or improving over time—that aren’t being considered. Ad Hominem Definition: Attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.
Example: "You can't trust Mr. Copeland’s opinion on climate change because he's not a scientist."
Why It’s Wrong: It focuses on the person, not the argument.
Slippery Slope Using the slippery slope fallacy, you conclude that one minor event or action will lead to another more extreme event or action! This is a classic case of CATASTROPHIZING! Straw Man Definition: where someone misrepresents or oversimplifies an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack or refute. Instead of addressing the actual point being made, the person creates a distorted or exaggerated version of the argument (the "straw man") and then proceeds to dismantle that weaker version.
Example:
Person 1:: "I think that small business should expand to an online store to reach more customers."
Person 2: "Oh, so you just want them to sell out and turn nto a corporate chain that loses its charm?
What’s the difference between Straw Man and Slippery Slope?
● Straw man: misinterpret the argument to make it easier/weaker to attack. This is a Fake version of argument
● Slope: Exaggerates consequences of actions
Red Herring This fallacy consists in diverting attention from the real issue by focusing instead on an issue having only a surface relevance to the first.
This is an intentional distraction!
Example: Son: "Wow, Dad, it's really hard to make a living on my salary." Father: "Consider yourself lucky, son. Why, when I was your age, I only made $40 a week." Today’s Agenda
➔ Blooket
➔ Once you are done matching up the fallacies complete the exit ticket!
