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Logical Fallacies AP Language Flashcards

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7993964112Ad Hominem (attacking the character of the opponent)These arguments limit themselves not to the issues, but to the opposition itself. Writers who fall into this fallacy attempt to refute the claims of the opposition by bringing the opposition's character into question. These arguments ignore the issues and attack the people.0
7993964113Begging the Question (Circular Logic)This happens when the writer presents an arguable point as a fact that supports the argument. This error leads to an argument that goes around and around, with evidence making the same claim as the proposition. Because it is much easier to make a claim than to support it, many writers fall into this trap.1
7993964114Non Sequitur argumentsThe conclusion doesn't logically follow the explanation. These fallacies can be found on both the sentence level and the level of the argument itself.2
7993964115Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (after this, therefore also this)This argument assumes a faulty causal relationship. One event following another in time does not mean that the first event caused the later event. Writers must be able to prove that one event caused another event and did not simply follow in time.3
7993964116Faulty AnalogiesThese extended comparisons and metaphors attempt to relate ideas or situations that upon closer inspection aren't really that similar.4
7993964117Hasty GeneralizationsThese fallacies may base an argument on insufficient evidence. Writers may draw conclusions too quickly, not considering the whole issue. They may look only at a small group as representative of the whole or may look only at a small piece of the issue.5
7993964118Red HerringsThese fallacies may have little relevance to the argument at hand. Desperate arguers often try to change the ground of the argument by changing the subject. The new subject may be related to the original argument, but does little to resolve it.6
7993964119EquivocationThis may happen when the writer makes use of a word's multiple meanings and changes the meanings in the middle of the argument without really telling the audience about the shift. Often when we use vague or ambiguous words like "right," "justice," or "experience," we aren't sure ourselves what we mean.7
7993964120Ignoring the QuestionThis fallacy is similar to presenting a red herring. Rather than answering the question that has been asked or addressing the issue at hand, the writer shifts focus, supplying an unrelated argument. In this way, the writer dodges the real issues of the debate.8
7993964121Opposing a Straw ManThis fallacy is a tactic used by a lot of writers because they find it easier to refute an oversimplified opposition. Writers may also pick only the opposition's weakest or most insignificant point to refute. Doing so diverts attention from the real issues and rarely, if ever, leads to resolution or truth.9
7993964122Slippery SlopesThis fallacy suggest that one step will inevitably lead to more, eventually negative steps. While sometimes the results may be negative, this fallacy argues that the descent is inevitable and unalterable. Stirring up emotions against the negative trend, this fallacy can be avoided by providing solid evidence of the eventuality rather than speculation.10
7993964123Either—Or argumentsThis fallacy may reduce complex issues to black and white choices. Most often issues will have a number of choices for resolution.11
7993964124Bandwagon Appeals (ad populum)This fallacy tries to get everyone on board. Writers who use this approach try to convince readers that everyone else believes something, so the reader should also. The fact that a lot of people believe it does not make it so.12
7993964125False AuthorityThis fallacy is a tactic used by many writers, especially in advertising. An authority in one field may know nothing of another field. Being knowledgeable in one area doesn't constitute knowledge in other areas.13
7993964126Tu Quoque (you're another)These fallacies avoid the real argument by making similar charges against the opponent. Like ad hominem arguments, they do little to arrive at conflict resolution.14
8003889085False Dichotomyconsists of a consideration of only the two extremes when there are one or more intermediate possibilities.15
8003901221Faulty causalityrefers to the setting up of a cause-and-effect relationship when none exist.16
8003911993Straw Man argumentconsists of an oversimplification of an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack17
8003926642Appeal to ignorancebased on the assumption that whatever has not been proven false must be true.18

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