Special Pleading _the error of using a double standard. Example: “Law enforcement should be exempt from some of the laws they enforce. After all, laws are made to protect us […]
Slippery Slope Fallacy _ the claim that a particular action will trigger a negative chain of events, when in reality many surrounding factors would prevent the result. Example: “We can’t […]
Reification _ attributing an absolute definitive characteristic to something abstract. Otherwise known as the Fallacy of Ambiguity. Examples: “Love is blind.” “Justice is impartial.” “Evil has no conscience.” This is […]
Question-begging Epithet _ using biased or emotional language to coerce people into accepting a position rather than using logic or evidence. Example: “Only a total moron would agree with your […]
“No True Scotsman” Fallacy _ the arguer defines a term in a biased way in order to protect his position from rebuttals. Example: “You can believe what you want about […]
Naturalistic Fallacy _ the position that since something is a particular way, it is morally acceptable for it to be that way. Examples: “Might makes right. After all, it’s a […]
Moralistic Fallacy _ the demand that because something should be a particular way, that it validates that way. Or, jumping from arguments about what ought to be to statements about […]
Hasty Generalization _ making a general claim which is derived from an insufficient number of specific examples. Example: “Prisoner X was a member of an extremist group. Everyone in that […]
Genetic Fallacy _ the rejection of a claim simply because someone objects to the source of the information. Example from Dr Jason Lisle’s book Discerning Truth: If a Creationist cites […]
Faulty Appeal to Authority _ the endorsement of a position or statement simply based on the social stature of the person making it. (Opposite of the ad hominem fallacy) Example: […]