Which Logical Fallacy Do You Commit The Most?
Which Logical Fallacy Do You Commit The Most?
You may commit more than you realize
You may commit more than you realize
Most often, what makes you decide to read a book?
Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
What are your views on tightening gun restrictions?
Do you approve of the death penalty?
How many different sources (TV channels, newspapers, websites, etc.) do you regularly check for news?
Do you agree with this statement: "There is no evidence for the Loch Ness monster; therefore, the Loch Ness monster does not exist."
Do you consider yourself to be religious?
Do you trust what your country's current leader says?
If a friend who usually gets back to you quickly doesn't answer your texts or calls all day, do you always worry about the same thing? (Something happened to them, they're mad at you, etc.)
At the beginning of the semester, your professor tells the class that she doesn't tolerate cell phone usage in class. However, you notice more and more people texting during boring lectures as the semester goes on. Would you start using your phone in class?
When asking and thinking about people's political views, do you tend to think of them in terms of one of the two major political parties?
Do you believe in the motto, "You can never give anyone a break. If you do, they'll walk all over you?'
Does it confuse you when people have unusual pets like snakes and hedgehogs?
If you knew you roommate had stolen food from you at some point, would you think it was okay to steal food from him/her in the future?
In school, did you stress over one failed test ruining your future career prospects?
Genetic Fallacy
Genetic Fallacy
You most often commit the genetic fallacy, which is arguing that a claim is true or false solely based on its origin. This is extremely common in society, especially when it comes to dismissing or accepting a politician's claim based on who that politician is. However, this fallacy does not only apply to people as sources. This fallacy can also be committed because an idea came from a dream or some sort of unknown source. Remember, the source of a claim is not a reason to accept or deny it. A true fact can come from an unreliable source, and nonsense can come from the smartest person you know!
Appeal to Tradition
Appeal to Tradition
You most often commit the appeal to tradition, which is arguing that a claim is true solely because it is part of a tradition. Some common examples of this fallacy are arguing the validity of herbal medicine because it has been around for 1000s of years, sticking up for your form of government because that is all your country has ever known, and following a religion because it is centuries old. Tradition is not a reason to accept a claim, but on the bright side, it is also not a reason to reject one!
Appeal to Ignorance
Appeal to Ignorance
You most often commit the appeal to ignorance, which comes in two major forms. Either you believe in things solely because there is no evidence disproving them, you reject claims solely because there is no evidence proving them, or you do both. Both are fallacious, and commonly committed when talking about religion, extraterrestrials, and conspiracy theories. A lack of evidence does not technically prove or disprove anything!
Two Wrongs Make a Right
Two Wrongs Make a Right
You most often commit the two wrongs make a right fallacy. This common fallacy is arguing that doing something morally wrong is justified because somebody else did it. This "eye for an eye" mentality is often used when someone sees their peers doing little crimes or not following signs and directions, or when somebody does something wrong, causing the victim to do it as well, like cheating in a relationship. Logically, somebody doing something wrong does not make it right for you to do.
False Dilemma
False Dilemma
This common fallacy occurs when someone asserts that there are only two alternatives to consider in a situation, when that is not really the case. Famous examples of this are the motto, "America--Love it or Leave it," President George W. Bush's statement, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists," and the science versus religion debate. If you think about it, there are probably so many situations in which you stress over choosing between two options, but there are actually so many more.
Slippery Slope
Slippery Slope
You most often commit the slippery slope fallacy, which is arguing that doing something will inevitably lead to something worse, when it is not logically the case. Lately, this has been commonly used in arguments about gun restrictions leading to the total loss of the right to bear arms, or on the other side, a lack of gun restrictions leading to uncontrollable mass shootings everywhere, every day. On a day to day basis, you probably worry about things like one mistake, argument, or bad grade ruining the rest of your life.