ALEXIS MAE H. GABUYA (WF 7:30 – 8:30) AUG.
23, 2019
FORMAL FALLACIES
1) Fallacy of the Illicit Major
All dogs are mammals. No cats are dogs. Therefore, cats are not mammals
2) Fallacy of the Illicit Minor
All Catholics are Christians. All Christians are Jesus’ lovers. Therefore, all Jesus’ lovers are
Catholic
3) Fallacy of the Undistributed Middle
All ghosts are imaginary. All unicorns are imaginary. Therefore, all ghosts are unicorns
INFORMAL FALLACIES
1) Ad Hominem
My opponent suggests that lowering taxes will be a good idea -- this is coming from a woman
who eats a pint of Ben and Jerry’s each night!
2) Ad Hominem Tu Quoque
A political candidate's position on abortion is attacked because in previous speeches, he took
the other position.
3) Appeal to Authority
Charles Darwin, a well-known scientist says that unicorns used to roam earth. Therefore, it's
true.
4) Appeal to Belief
The majority of Americans believe in God, so God must exist.
5) Appeal to Common Practice
A student caught cheating on a test claims that students cheat all the time and that he was just
the unlucky one who got caught.
6) Appeal to Consequences of a Belief
If you do not believe in God, you will go to Hell.
7) Appeal to Emotion
Power lines cause cancer. I met a little boy with cancer who lived just 20 miles from a power
line who looked into my eyes and said, in his weak voice, “Please do whatever you can so that
other kids won’t have to go through what I am going through.” I urge you to vote for this bill to
tear down all power lines and replace them with monkeys on treadmills.
8) Appeal to Fear
A teacher tells the students that if they do not keep the noise down, the principal is bound to
hear and come to the classroom.
9) Appeal to Flattery
You should certainly be the one who washes the dishes -- you are just so good at it!
10) Appeal to Novelty
The latest version of a specific running shoe will make you faster.
11) Appeal to Pity
I really deserve an “A” on this paper, professor. Not only did I study during my grandmother’s
funeral, but I also passed up the heart transplant surgery, even though that was the first
matching donor in 3 years.
12) Appeal to Popularity
Mormonism is one of the fastest growing sects of Christianity today so that whole story about
Joseph Smith getting the golden plates that, unfortunately, disappeared back into heaven, must
be true!
13) Appeal to Ridicule
Evolution is the idea that humans come from pond scum.
14) Appeal to Spite
Jon: Why should I bother exercising while my spouse is on vacation stuffing her face with food.
15) Appeal to Tradition
Marriage has traditionally been between a man and a woman; therefore, gay marriage should
not be allowed.
16) Bandwagon
Marcus wants to go to a small community college close to home, but most of the kids in his class
are applying to larger colleges out of state. Marcus decides that he should also apply to those
colleges.
17) Begging the Question
Paranormal activity is real because I have experienced what can only be described as
paranormal activity.
18) Biased Sample
The principal wanted to know if school discipline procedures were fair. He asked only the
students in the in-school suspension class.
19) Burden of Proof
A student claims that the school is overcharging students for lunch. The teacher says that she
does not believe that is happening. The student asks the teacher to prove that lunch prices are
fair.
20) Circumstantial Ad Hominem
Of course, your minister says he believes in God. He would be unemployed otherwise.
21) Composition
Each brick in that building weighs less than a pound. Therefore, the building weighs less than a
pound.
22) Confusing Cause and Effect
Jennifer comes to class just as the bell rings every day. Jennifer's arrival at class causes the bell
to ring.
