A misconception resulting from flaw in reasoning, or a trick or illusion in thoughts that often succeeds in obfuscating facts/truth.
A formal fallacy is an error that can be seen within the argument's form. Every formal fallacy is a non sequitur — an argument where the conclusion does not follow from the premise.
Affirming the ConsequentAssuming that because the result is true, one specific cause must be true.
Bad Reason FallacyJudging a conclusion false simply because it rests on a bad reason.
Denying the AntecedentAssuming that if the cause is false, the result must be false too.
Non SequiturA conclusion that simply doesn't follow from the premises given.
Propositional FallaciesErrors in how 'and', 'or', and 'if' connect statements logically.
Quantification FallaciesMistakes from misusing quantifiers like 'all', 'some', or 'none'.
Sunk Cost FallacyContinuing something only because of what you've already put in.
Syllogistic FallaciesFaulty deduction that draws a flawed conclusion from two premises.
An informal fallacy refers to an argument whose proposed conclusion is not supported by the premises. This creates an unpersuasive or unsatisfying conclusion.
Ad HominemAttacking the person making a claim instead of the claim itself.
AmbiguityExploiting a word or phrase that carries more than one meaning.
AnecdotalLeaning on a personal story in place of solid evidence.
Appeal to AuthorityTreating a claim as true just because an authority asserts it.
Appeal to EmotionSwaying with feelings instead of offering a valid argument.
Appeal to NatureArguing something is good or right because it is natural.
Appeal to NoveltyAssuming something is better simply because it is new.
Appeal to RidiculeMocking an argument rather than actually refuting it.
Appeal to TraditionClaiming something is right because it has always been done.
Argument from RepetitionRepeating a claim until it is mistaken for the truth.
Argumentum ad PopulumAssuming a claim is true because many people believe it.
Argumentum ex SilentioDrawing a conclusion from an absence of evidence or silence.
Association FallacyJudging something by the company or group it keeps.
BandwagonAdopting a belief mainly because everyone else has.
Begging the QuestionAssuming the very conclusion inside the argument's premises.
Burden of ProofDemanding others disprove a claim you never proved.
Circular ReasoningSupporting a claim by restating the claim itself.
Continuum FallacyRejecting a real distinction because the boundary is fuzzy.
EquivocationShifting a word's meaning partway through the argument.
Etymological FallacyInsisting a word must mean what it originally meant.
Fallacy FallacyConcluding a claim is false because its argument was flawed.
Fallacy of Composition and DivisionAssuming the parts and the whole share the same traits.
Fallacy of Quoting Out of ContextDistorting meaning by stripping away the surrounding words.
False Cause & False AttributionMistaking correlation, or the wrong source, for the real cause.
False DilemmaPresenting only two options when more actually exist.
False PremiseBuilding an argument on a starting claim that is not true.
Faulty GeneralizationDrawing a broad conclusion from too few examples.
Furtive FallacyAssuming outcomes were secretly caused by hidden misconduct.
Gambler's FallacyBelieving past chance events change the odds of future ones.
Genetic FallacyJudging a claim by its origin rather than its merit.
Ignoratio ElenchiArguing a point that is beside the actual question at hand.
Incomplete ComparisonClaiming something is better without saying better than what.
Inflation of ConflictUsing experts' disagreement to dismiss an entire field.
Kettle LogicDefending a point with several mutually inconsistent arguments.
Loaded QuestionAsking a question that smuggles in an unproven assumption.
Middle GroundAssuming the truth must lie between two opposing positions.
No True ScotsmanRedefining a group on the fly to dodge a counterexample.
Personal IncredulityRejecting a claim because you find it hard to imagine.
Poisoning the WellDiscrediting a source before it has a chance to speak.
Projection FallacyAssuming others think and feel exactly as you do.
Proof by VerbosityBurying a point in words rather than supporting it.
Proving Too MuchUsing reasoning that would also prove absurd conclusions.
Red HerringDiverting attention with something irrelevant to the issue.
ReificationTreating an abstract idea as if it were a concrete thing.
Retrospective DeterminismClaiming an event was inevitable just because it happened.
Shotgun ArgumentationMaking so many arguments the opponent cannot answer them all.
Slippery SlopeClaiming one small step leads inevitably to extremes.
Special PleadingApplying the rules to others while exempting yourself.
StrawmanDistorting an argument to make it easier to knock down.
Texas SharpshooterCherry-picking data to fit a pattern after the fact.
Tu QuoqueDeflecting criticism by pointing to the critic's hypocrisy.
Weak AnalogyComparing two things too dissimilar to support the point.
Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning or argumentation that can undermine the validity of an argument. They are often used to mislead or distract from the truth, or to win an argument by appealing to emotions rather than reason. It's important to be aware of these fallacies in order to critically evaluate arguments and avoid being misled.
These mistakes in reasoning can be both intentional and unintentional, often leading to false or misleading conclusions. They undermine the strength and credibility of an argument, making it difficult to persuade others or arrive at accurate judgments.
There are two main types of logical fallacies: formal and informal. Formal fallacies involve errors in the structure or form of an argument, while informal fallacies arise from errors in the content, context, or delivery of the argument.
Logical fallacies can be difficult to identify, as they often involve seemingly reasonable arguments that, upon closer examination, reveal underlying flaws. Read more →
Four tools that read real text and name what's wrong with the reasoning.
