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FALLACIES IN REASONING

Sound Reasoning

Sound reasoning is used every day. In fact, we make decisions and judgments based on sound reasoning,
even in the most insignificant thing we do for the day. There are two well-known types of sound
reasoning: deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning.

Deductive reasoning is from a general statement to a specific one.

Example:

Your prior knowledge tells you that Muslims do not eat pork. Your boss is a Muslim. You will not take
him to restaurant that serves only lechon because you know that eating pork is not allowed in his faith.

You can present the statements in the following way:

Muslims do not eat pork.

My boss is a Muslim.

Therefore, he does not eat pork.

Inductive reasoning is from specific to general.

Example:

Because you are sick with influenza, you just stayed at home and didn’t go to school. You texted your
classmate and asked him to tell your teacher that you are sick with the flu. Your classmate texted back
and told you that he also has the flu. You logged in to your social media account. You saw that most
people are complaining of getting sick with the flu. From these similar incidences, you concluded that
there’s an outbreak of the flu. Your logical reasoning can be arranged like this:

I am sick with influenza.

My classmate is also sick with influenza.

Most of my friends in social media are complaining of getting sick with influenza.

There is an influenza outbreak.

The conclusion for both deductive and inductive reasoning is only acceptable if the preceding premises
are acceptable.

Take caution in the fallacies of reasoning that can be very subtle yet deceptive. Do not use them and
neither be persuaded by any of them.

Handout 3: English for Academic and Professional Purposes

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FALLACIES IN REASONING

A fallacy in reasoning makes an argument false or unreliable. Here are a few most common fallacies in
reasoning:

1. Bandwagon – this is a reasoning based on popularity rather than on scientific evidence or facts.
This gives one a feeling of “you are the only one not doing (or using) it, so why not join now?”
2. Hasty generalization – this is reaching a conclusion without enough pieces of evidence or
further studies. You should not use an isolated experience to make a general statement or
judgment on something or someone.
Example:
If you see a Chinese being disrespectful to an older person, you should not say, “Chinese people
are disrespectful to the elderly.”
3. Red herring – this is a term that originated from the legend that criminals in England during the
17th century would use a red herring (a fish) to confuse the bloodhounds on the trail that pursue
them. The bloodhounds would then veer away in the opposite direction, which is away from
where the criminal was. A red herring is an argument that distracts the opponents away from
the real issue and leads them to an irrelevant issue.
Example:
A politician was arrested and put to jail because of graft and corruption. Instead of focusing on
the issue that he had stolen money from the people, that he should undergo a fair trial and
suffer the consequences thereafter, the lawyers may try to divert the attention of the people to
another irrelevant issue such as the terrorist attack that happened in the mall.
4. Attack on a person – this reasoning attacks the person instead of the issue. This happens a lot in
politics. If you hear politicians attacking their opponents instead of the issue, beware! “He is
always late for his meetings. How do you expect him to advance the progress of this country if he
is always running late?”
5. Either-or reasoning – this presents only two alternatives and acts as if there are no other
choices.
Example:
Eat an apple a day or you will get sick.
It’s not apples only that will keep you from getting sick. There are many other nutritious
fruits that are as healthy as apples. And besides, it’s not only fruits that keep you
healthy. You should have a balanced nutrition to stay healthy.

Handout 3: English for Academic and Professional Purposes