Ask Your Questions About Logical Fallacies

Welcome! This is the place to ask the community of experts and other fallacyophites (I made up that word) if someone has a committed a fallacy or not. This is a great way to settle a dispute!


Dr. Bo's Criteria for Logical Fallacies:

  • It must be an error in reasoning not a factual error.
  • It must be commonly applied to an argument either in the form of the argument or in the interpretation of the argument.
  • It must be deceptive in that it often fools the average adult.
Therefore, we will define a logical fallacy as a concept within argumentation that commonly leads to an error in reasoning due to the deceptive nature of its presentation. Logical fallacies can comprise fallacious arguments that contain one or more non-factual errors in their form or deceptive arguments that often lead to fallacious reasoning in their evaluation.
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What would this fallacy be called?

If I was to say that a 5 pointed star was a true and real star in a debate to try and prove a point and I was obviously wrong, what would such a fallacy be called?

asked on Friday, Jan 13, 2023 05:59:00 AM by Mr. Gavigan
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PETA fallacy example?

PETA posted an ad saying "You wouldn't let your child smoke. Like smoking, eating meat causes heart disease and cancer. Go Vegan"  What fallacy, if any, is being used?

asked on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2023 01:34:58 PM by Curtis Aguirre
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Is Matt Walsh invoking Magical Thinking in his video here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEKej7bE9Uc

asked on Monday, Jan 09, 2023 05:50:26 PM by 87blue
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Empty class

In the Existential Fallacy, I do not understand what is meant by an empty class. What is meant by an empty class ? Where is the empty class in the examples given ?

asked on Wednesday, Jan 04, 2023 07:35:07 AM by Mark
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Name of Anecdotal Fallacy

While reading through this (rather wonderful) book, I noticed that I couldn't find the "anecdotal fallacy." Is it under a different name, or is it even considered a fallacy since the anecdote given itself can be a "true anecdote" in the sense that i...

asked on Tuesday, Jan 03, 2023 11:56:02 AM by Mr. Indigo
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Jellyfish vs. Shark fallacy?

Is there a term for this sort of reasoning: Someone states that box jellyfish stings are almost always fatal. The only statement they make to support the claim is: “More people have died throughout history from box jellyfish stings than from ...

asked on Monday, Jan 02, 2023 05:26:19 PM by Daniel
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Self-righteousness examples

I believe the examples given for the self-righteousness fallacy fit better the prejudicial language fallacy. The self-righteousness fallacy examples are: Ricki: Do you think aborted fetuses have feelings? Jenni: Any honorable and kind person...

asked on Friday, Dec 30, 2022 02:46:23 PM by Kostas Oikonomou
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Using true, but misleading data in a graph to stimulate an erroneous conclusion

Two graphs have been shared with me recently, one on COVID deaths vs vaccination rates and the other on the projected use of fossil fuels in the immediate future vs goals to mitigate climate change.  Each can be used to argue against prevailing...

asked on Sunday, Dec 25, 2022 05:14:22 PM by Skeptocrat
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What fallacy is this?

A reporter asked the producer (happened a week ago): R: Do you think it's right to hire those vulnerable people to your scripted homeless-reality? P: They signed it with their hand, they have legal right to participate or not. Would you take this ...

asked on Friday, Dec 23, 2022 04:24:42 PM by Sandor
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Is this a genuine fallacy or just a difference in moral philosophies?

I was talking with a family member the other day, and the conversation ended up going into religious conversation. I'm not religious myself, though I'm not dismissive of it either, while my family member is quite religious. We ended up talking about...

asked on Thursday, Dec 15, 2022 01:43:38 PM by Vasili