Commonly Used Logical Fallacies

The KU Writer’s handbook states (p. 64), “…even logical reasoning can result in incorrect conclusions. These are called logical fallacies.” We are discussing these patterns in seminar this week, Unit 3, and I thought that it would be a good topic to write about parallel to the course.

Have you ever seen a magic show or an illusionist, they use some of these fallacies and sleight of hand tricks to deceive the viewer and call it “magic.” Our own minds can often be predictable, we draw conclusions and are misdirected. The same can happen with statistics, certain peer groups, in mob psychology, and in our own arguments in support of those things that our hearts believe to be true. Awareness of these fallacies makes us wiser consumers, businesspersons, readers, and writers. On occasion, depending upon our audience, we might even elect to use these techniques to persuade a weaker mind into a proposal that a more knowledgeable person would never consider, they are often used by parents to control their offspring and I think that’s where the trouble begins, we had parents that used these upon us during our childhood and the logic is passed on this way from generation to generation.

These are the names of some examples according to the KU writers guide (pp.64-65)

The Anecdotal Fallacy or False Analogy (True Statement + True Statement= False conclusion)

False Cause, Mistaking Time for Cause and Effect , Post Hoe (a True Past Event + a Present Condition=False assumption)

False Authority, Appeal to Authority (Using the reference of a valid authority to sustain a statement of one without authority)

Slippery Slope (False conclusions derived from a series events that could or could not happen as a result of the preceding event in a chain reaction or domino effect)

Either/Or Dilemmas (Misleading or misdirection, leaving only one option for the audience as the result of an event, there are always other options they could take, but they are presented with only one)

Circular Reasoning or Begging the Question (supporting the same false conclusion through assumption by stating it again in a different way, or assumption that something is the truth)

Ad Hominem (Where a conclusion is based on a prejudice (against/favorable) of a person and not really on the statement or facts at all, but upon the person (good or bad))

Some other forms of Logical Fallacy mention in "The Curious Writer" by Bruce Ballenger and during this week's seminar are:

Hasty Generalizations (A judgement about something or someone or first impression which was not allowed sufficent time to make a true judgement about it)

Straw Man (Side tracking, ignoring or misrepresenting the actual position of the opponent. Making it easier to knock down with a logical argument)

Appealing to Popularity (because something is popular in the polls it must be good or true)



So, what is an appropriate way of presenting evidence? I'll write about that in my very next post.

References
VanDame, K. PhD. Kaplan Handbook for Writers 2nd Editon. 2008. United States. Cengage Learning.

Ballenger B. The Curious Writer 2nd Edition. 2009. New York. Pearson Education Inc.