Types of Fallacies

1. Ad Hominem – also known as attacking the person, fallacies occur when acceptance or
rejection of a concept is rejected based on its source and not its merit.
 Example: Saying that one’s argument should not be credited because the speaker is
stupid without analyzing the content and credibility of his speech.

2. Straw Man – the arguer sets up a weak version of the opponent’s position and tries to score
points by knocking it down.
 Example: “Despite the 7 minute speech of prime minister, the only we got from their
speech is that voters are stupid and are not capable of choosing the right leader for the
job.”

3. False Dilemma – occur when someone is only given two choices for possible alternatives when
more than two exists.
 Example: Saying that something results life or death when they can do something else
that doesn’t require such intense consequence.

4. Appeal to Pity – takes place when an arguer tries to get people to accept a conclusion by
making them feel sorry for someone.
 Example: Defending that someone should win a talent show because he/she is poor and
has many problems.

5. Appeal to Emotion – relies on emotions, such as pity, sympathy, or fear, to persuade people to
accept an argument or conclusion.
 Example: Defending that someone should win a talent show because he/she is poor and
has many problems.

6. Gambler’s Fallacy – refers to the belief that streaks affect statistically independent phenomena.
 Example: Saying that having a 10 time streak of getting tails when he toss coins means
that tails is what’s destined for him.

7. Appeal to Force – this is the use of force or a threat to use force against the audience to make
hem accept an argument.
 Example: Blackmailing.

8. Fallacy of Division – assumes as if a whole has certain characteristics, then all the components
must share the same characteristics.
 Example: Saying that since communication is fun, and assuming that public speaking is
probably fun too.

9. Appeal to Authority – writers may imply, or readers may assume, that something is true
because someone famous, smart, or respected said it.
 Example: “This is true because according to Johnny Depp, it is true.”

10. Circular Arguments – often use a claim as both a premise and a conclusion.
 Example: “Saying that ‘marupok’ culture is something you don’t want yet supporting
‘marupok’ practices is still going to end up with the ‘marupok’ culture manifesting at the
end.”
 11. Equivocation – happens when a word, phrase, or sentence is used deliberately to confuse,
deceive or mislead. In other words, saying one thing but meaning another thing.
 Example:“Humans have the tendency to dirty a place” could mean “Humans are pigs
and lack discipline” or “Humans are not given the capacity to maintain an environment
because of lack of governance when it comes to garbage disposal.”

12. Genetic Fallacy – also known as fallacy of origins; involves acceptance or rejection of
concepts based on their source, not their merit.
 Example: Assuming that one doesn’t have understanding on the problems of Asians
because one is American.

13. Appeal to Ignorance -it claims that an argument is true because it has not yet been proven
false.
 Example: Assuming that there is a different world under the Mariana trench.

14. Bandwagon Fallacy – based on false assumption that when something is popular, it must be
true or good.
 Example: Buying Shopee finds based on the amount sold products it has.

15. Tu quoque (“You too.”) - defending an error in one’s reasoning by pointing out that one’s
opponent has made the same error.
 Example: “Opposition claims that we did not have substantiation in our arguments,
when they themselves lacked in providing us the middle analysis in their claims and also
substantiation to further elevate their stance.”

ALA, FAYZAH INSHIRAH COSNA ALONTO

1st Year – BS Development Communication
GEC102 - Dd3