Dismissing an idea because of where it came from — rather than evaluating it on its own merits — is the genetic…
Ethan
An argument that assumes what it’s trying to prove is circular. The fallacy is sometimes obvious and sometimes deeply buried — and…
Ethan
“Everyone is doing it” is not, by itself, a reason to do anything. The bandwagon fallacy is the inference from popularity to…
Ethan
Citing an expert is not automatically a fallacy. The fallacy occurs when the expert isn’t really an expert on the question, or…
Ethan
When someone presents a choice as “either A or B,” the question to ask is whether C, D, and E are also…
Ethan
“If we allow X, then Y will happen, then Z, then catastrophe.” Sometimes this is a real warning. Sometimes it’s a fallacy.…
Ethan
Attacking the person rather than the argument is the most famous logical fallacy. It is also the most misunderstood. Here is what…
Ethan
The straw man is one of the most common informal fallacies in everyday argument. Understanding it makes you a much better participant…
Ethan
