{"id":16677,"date":"2016-02-18T20:49:33","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T20:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy?page_id=16677"},"modified":"2026-03-26T10:06:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T15:06:13","slug":"reading-logical-fallacies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-logical-fallacies\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading Logical Fallacies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"mmDeferVideoEncompass_IawIjqOJBU8\" style=\"position: relative;\">\n\t\t\t<picture>\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\">\n\t\t\t\t<source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"> \n\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" id=\"videoThumbnailImage_IawIjqOJBU8\" data-source-videoID=\"IawIjqOJBU8\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/circle-play-duotone.png\" alt=\"Reading Logical Fallacies Video\" height=\"464\" width=\"825\" class=\"size-full\" data-matomo-title = \"Reading Logical Fallacies\">\n\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<style>img#videoThumbnailImage_IawIjqOJBU8:hover {cursor:pointer;} img#videoThumbnailImage_IawIjqOJBU8 {background-size:contain;background-image:url(\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/updated-reading-logical-fallacies-64bea27040ea3-1.webp\");}<\/style>\n\t\t\t<script defer>\n\t\t\t  jQuery(\"img#videoThumbnailImage_IawIjqOJBU8\").click(function() {\n\t\t\t\tlet videoId = jQuery(this).attr(\"data-source-videoID\");\n\t\t\t\tlet helpTag = '<div id=\"mmDeferVideoYTMessage_IawIjqOJBU8\" style=\"display: none;position: absolute;top: -24px;width: 100%;text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;font-size: small;border-top: 1px solid #fc0;\">Having trouble? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v='+videoId+'\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube.<\/a><\/span><\/div>';\n\t\t\t\tlet tag = document.createElement(\"iframe\");\n\t\t\t\ttag.id = \"yt\" + videoId;\n\t\t\t\ttag.src = \"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/\" + videoId + \"?autoplay=1&controls=1&wmode=opaque&rel=0&egm=0&iv_load_policy=3&hd=0&enablejsapi=1\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.frameborder = 0;\n\t\t\t\ttag.allow = \"autoplay; fullscreen\";\n\t\t\t\ttag.width = this.width;\n\t\t\t\ttag.height = this.height;\n\t\t\t\ttag.setAttribute(\"data-matomo-title\",\"Reading Logical Fallacies\");\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_IawIjqOJBU8\").html(tag);\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoEncompass_IawIjqOJBU8\").prepend(helpTag);\n\t\t\t\tsetTimeout(function(){jQuery(\"div#mmDeferVideoYTMessage_IawIjqOJBU8\").css(\"display\", \"block\");}, 2000);\n\t\t\t  });\n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\n<p><script>\nfunction Oi8_Function() {\n  var x = document.getElementById(\"Oi8\");\n  if (x.style.display === \"none\") {\n    x.style.display = \"block\";\n  } else {\n    x.style.display = \"none\";\n  }\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<div class=\"moc-toc hide-on-desktop hide-on-tablet\">\n<div><button onclick=\"Oi8_Function()\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/toc2.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"show or hide table of contents\"><\/button><\/p>\n<p>On this page<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<nav id=\"Oi8\" style=\"display:none;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Circular_Reasoning\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Circular Reasoning<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Hasty_Generalization\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Hasty Generalization<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Slippery_Slope\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Slippery Slope<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Straw_Man_Argument\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Straw Man Argument<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Ad_Hominem\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Ad Hominem<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#False_Dichotomy\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">False Dichotomy<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Appeal_to_Emotion\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Appeal to Emotion<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Equivocation\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Equivocation<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#Bandwagon_Appeal\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">Bandwagon Appeal<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"toc-h2\"><a href=\"#False_Analogy\" class=\"smooth-scroll\">False Analogy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"accordion\"><input id=\"transcript\" type=\"checkbox\" class=\"spoiler_button\" \/><label for=\"transcript\">Transcript<\/label>\n<div class=\"spoiler\" id=\"transcript-spoiler\">\n<p>Hey guys, welcome to this video on logical fallacies.<\/p>\n<p>When creating a logical argument, there are many different aspects that have to come together to ensure that your argument is sound and does not contain any flaws. One of these aspects is avoiding what we call \u201clogical fallacies.\u201d A <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/understanding-various-types-of-logical-fallacies\/\">logical fallacy<\/a> is an error of reasoning that will weaken your <a class=\"ylist\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/argumentative-writing\/\">argument<\/a> and, in most cases, undermine it completely. Today, we\u2019re going to look at the 10 most common <strong>types of fallacies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Circular_Reasoning\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Circular Reasoning<\/h2>\n<p>\nCircular reasoning, or circular argument, is when the argument is restated rather than proven. In other words, instead of explaining why something is or isn\u2019t true, you just fall back on the original argument as \u201cproof\u201d. <\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Circular_Reasoning_Fallacy_Examples\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Circular Reasoning Fallacy Examples<\/h3>\n<p>\nHere\u2019s an example: \u201cOpium is sleep-inducing because it has a sleep-inducing quality.\u201d You haven\u2019t really explained why opium is sleep-inducing, you\u2019ve just confirmed that it is in fact sleep-inducing. A typical formula for circular reasoning is \u201cA is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true\u201d. Another example of this would be: \u201cThe wind is invisible because I can\u2019t see it, and I can\u2019t see it because it\u2019s invisible.\u201d When constructing an argument, make sure to avoid this kind of logic by being as specific as possible about your proofs.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Hasty_Generalization\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Hasty Generalization<\/h2>\n<p>\nA hasty generalization is when someone makes a sweeping statement without considering all of the facts. For example, if a man walks through a town for the first time and sees 10 people, all of them children, he might conclude that all the town\u2019s residents are children. This argument fails to explore all of the data surrounding the topic and attempts to suggest a conclusion based on this limited knowledge. This is also known as an \u201covergeneralization\u201d and is best avoided by exploring and presenting every aspect of an argument\u2019s topic.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Slippery_Slope\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Slippery Slope<\/h2>\n<p>\nA slippery slope is a conclusion based on the premise that one small step will lead to a chain of events resulting in some significant event, which is usually negative. In other words, if we allow A to happen, then an unwanted Z will eventually happen, which means that A should not happen. <\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Slippery_Slope_Fallacy_Examples\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Slippery Slope Fallacy Examples<\/h3>\n<p>\nHere\u2019s an example: \u201cIf you don\u2019t study on Saturdays, your grades will suffer. If your grades suffer, you won\u2019t graduate school with high honors, which means you won\u2019t get a good job. Since you won\u2019t have a good job, you\u2019ll have to live on the streets.\u201d This implies that not studying on Saturdays will result in eventually being homeless. The problem here is that the main issue is being covered by extreme hypotheticals, with no real proof to support the argument.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Straw_Man_Argument\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Straw Man Argument<\/h2>\n<p>\nA straw man argument is a technique where someone distorts an opponent&#8217;s claim so that it is easier to refute, or where someone tries to refute a point someone made by giving a rebuttal to a point they did not make. For example, if someone said \u201cSchools should be more lenient with standardized testing,\u201d a straw man reply to this would be \u201cIf we stop giving tests in school we are going to raise an ignorant generation that won\u2019t have the skills to live in the real world.\u201d This fallacy serves to undermine an honest and rational debate with unfounded claims.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Ad_Hominem\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Ad Hominem<\/h2>\n<p>\nAn ad hominem is an attack on a person\u2019s character or personal attributes in order to discredit their argument. For example, a mother might reject the judgments of a male pediatrician because he has never been a mother and couldn\u2019t possibly understand the child\u2019s situation. She has done nothing to directly oppose the doctor\u2019s argument but has instead tried to undermine his judgment without actually having to engage with it.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"False_Dichotomy\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>False Dichotomy<\/h2>\n<p>\nA false dichotomy, or false dilemma, occurs when an argument presents two points while disregarding or ignoring others in order to narrow the argument in one person\u2019s favor. This is also known as an \u201ceither\/or\u201d fallacy. Here are a couple of examples: \u201cYou are either for us or against us.\u201d \u201cI thought you were a good person, but you didn\u2019t donate to charity last year.\u201d There are only two options given, when there are really more options available. This attempts to drive the argument in a direction where only one specific answer can be given in order to incriminate the opposing party.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Appeal_to_Emotion\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Appeal to Emotion<\/h2>\n<p>\nAn appeal to emotion is when a writer or speaker uses emotion-based language to try to persuade the reader or listener of a certain belief or position.<\/p>\n<p>An appeal to emotion generally follows the logical form: \\(x\\) is true. Think of how sad you will be if it\u2019s not true, or think of how happy you will be that it is true.<\/p>\n<p>Example: \u201cI deserve a second chance to submit my assignment. This past week was so busy for me. I had football practice late every night, I had tons of homework in all my other classes, and my girlfriend and I just broke up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In general, what someone perceives to be unfair, how someone is feeling, or even things that someone might perceive to be moral or immoral do not carry much weight for making an objective argument.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Equivocation\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Equivocation<\/h2>\n<p>\nA fallacy of equivocation is when an argument is presented in an ambiguous, double-sided way, making the argument misleading. This is also known as a \u201cdoublespeak\u201d fallacy. Here is an example: \u201cHot dogs are better than nothing. Nothing is better than hamburgers. Therefore, hot dogs are better than hamburgers.\u201d The word \u201cnothing\u201d in this case is used to refer to both \u201cnot anything\u201d and \u201call things\u201d. It\u2019s important to precisely define your words and be consistent with their usage.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Bandwagon_Appeal\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>Bandwagon Appeal<\/h2>\n<p>\nA Bandwagon Appeal is an appeal that presents the thoughts of a group of people in order to persuade someone to think the same way. It argues that one must accept or reject an argument based on peer pressure. Here are two examples: \u201cMany people buy extended warranties; therefore, it is wise to buy them.\u201d \u201cMy family holds this as a truth; therefore, everyone who disagrees is simply wrong.\u201d These are not strong arguments, because they have no basis in fact.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"False_Analogy\" class=\"m-toc-anchor\"><\/span>False Analogy<\/h2>\n<p>\nA false analogy, also known as a weak analogy, is when two things that are unalike are being compared based on a trivial similarity in order to prove a point.<\/p>\n<p>For example: \u201cPeople are like dogs. They respond best to discipline.\u201d This is an absurd analogy that attempts to correlate people and dogs based on one minor similarity.<\/p>\n<p>I hope that this video was helpful! See you next time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"home-buttons\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/reading-comprehension\/\">Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Return to Reading Comprehension Videos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":185750,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-16677","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"page_category-reading-comprehension-videos","7":"page_category-video-pages-for-study-course-sidebar-ad","8":"page_type-video","9":"subject_matter-english"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16677"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":280154,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16677\/revisions\/280154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mometrix.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}