1. Ambiguity Misuse of language with more than one meaning.
2. False Authority
Argument based on appeal to an expert when out of his
field of expertise.
3. Ad Populum ("Peer Pressure") Appeal to the herd mentality, xenophobia.
4. Wishful
Thinking Believing that things are (or will be) some
way simply
because that is how
you wish things to be.
5. False Dilemma
Argument based on the assumption that there are fewer
alternatives than actually
exist.
6. Ad Hominem ("Personal Attacks") name calling, abuse.
7. Subjectivism Argument that truth varies according to personal opinion.
8. Two Wrongs
Belief that actions can be justified against wrongdoers based
on the moral principles
of wrongdoers.
9. Appeal to Force ("Scare tactics") Belief in X based on fear if X is false.
10. Appeal to Pity Belief in fact or obligation simply based on sympathy.
11. Tradition Belief that X is justified simply because X has been done in the past.
12. Novelty Unjustified belief that new developments are better than the old.
13. Hasty
Generalization Concluding that a population has some
quality based on
a misrepresentative
sample.
14. Accident
An error based on the mistaken belief that a rule that is generally
true is without exceptions.
15. Half-truth Argument based on only the positive half of the story.
16. Slippery
Slope ("Continuum" or "Domino Fallacy")
belief that first step
in some direction amounts
to going far in that direction.
17. Equivocation
Mistake based on confusion of two different senses of a
term or phrase. (Compare
to Ambiguity)
18. Begging
the Question Also called circular reasoning. The
conclusion
is simply a restatement
of the premise.
19. Ignorance Belief that X is true because it cannot be proven false.
20. False
cause Belief that A is the cause of B based on seeing
that B merely
follows A in space
and time.
21. Euphemism
Invention in language used to avoid negative connotations of
words and phrases.
22. Hyperbole Exaggeration.
23. Anthropomorphism Only seeing and understanding things as if they were human.
24. Aphorism
An explanation which relies on a trite saying that, in the final
analysis,
is meaningless.
25. Ends justify
the means The assumption that worthy goals always justify
unethical
tactics.