Logical Fallacies (with examples)

[dead prez]

Now, I know a lot of you aren't creampuff morons, and are able to spot fallacious points in somebody's post when they try to make an argument, but have a shitty bridge. If you already know most fallacies and can pick them off hand, good for you, this is for those that are interested in learning about fallacies. As it helps you become a much sharper debator, hell I use this all the time. Even if I don't have point to bring to the thread, it's fun to deconstruct somebody's post if it's riddled with inane drivel, that isn't worth refuting in the first place. Do note that making an argument through a fallacy doesn't automatically make said person's argument wrong, it just means they're arguing for it incorrectly. Props to Endless Mike for originally coming up with this thread idea, I just took an interesting spin on it and applied the examples to Hip Hop



Without further ado

1) Ad Hominem- This one's easy, basically it means when you attack the person and don't refute their argument.

example- You're wrong because you listen to Souljia Boy

Just because said person has a terrible taste in music, does not nullify their opinion on the matter, said argument must be judged on it's own merits independent of whoever it's coming from.

Also, simply insulting somebody in a debate is NOT an ad hominem, learn the difference people.

2) Strawman- This is when X party distorts the words of another whether subconsciously or purposely into something that they did not say.

Example:

Persona A: Eminem is a great rapper.

Person B: OMG, you idiot, Eminem is far from the GOAT, wtf is wrong with you?

Person A did not claim that Eminem was the GOAT, merely that he was a good rapper, person B twisted the words of person a to say something that they didn't in order to make their argument look bad.

3) Burden of Proof- When somebody makes a claim but tries to force the other party to prove that claim instead. The Burden of proof is on the positive and whoever makes the claim.

Example:

Eminem is the best multi syllable rapper, prove me wrong.

The person has made the claim that Eminem is the best multi syllable rapper, now it's his job to prove that claim not shift it onto the other party to do his dirty work.

4) Appeal to Motive- When somebody attempts to refute an argument by merely questioning the reasons the opposing side may have instead of attacking the argument.

Example

You don't think Eminem is the best rapper ever because you hate white people!

Here the poster isn't actually making an argument but merely playing on what the opposing argument's reasoning on why they may not think Eminem is the GOAT.

5) Appeal to popularity- When somebody tries to persuade the other side into believing their argument by using sheer numbers, thinking that whichever side has the majority is correct.

Example

Eminem is the most known rapper in the world, therefore he is the best.

Here the poster isn't actually giving reasons as to why he believes Eminem is the best other than the fact that the general population is familiar with him and his music.

6) Appeal to Authority- When somebody tries to claim that since someone well versed in the matter at hand, or someone who naturally commands respect has given their opinion, that makes it true.

Example

Rakim said that if Eminem was black, he'd be the Muhammad Ali of rap.

Here the person is trying to use Rakim's cosigning of Eminem as fact; since Rakim is a respected figure in rap, what he says is automatically true, not knowing any other variables that may have been present in the scenario.


7) Circular Reasoning- when someone tries to make a conclusion that doesn't directly answer the question, and avoids it by leading it back to the premise.

Example

Eminem is the best lyricist ever because MMLP is the most lyrical album off all time.

The premise is that Eminem is the greatest lyricist ever because his album is the most lyrical album off all time, which doesn't address the question and goes back into a loop.

8) Non Sequiter- When somebody states a conclusion that doesn't directly tie to the premise.

Example

Eminem is a great freestyler thus he is the greatest rapper off all time.

Here the person says something that can be arguably proven true, but than leads to a conclusion that doesn't at all tie back to the premise.

9) Red Herring- When someone tries to divert the discussion into a completely unrelated point, as a means to lure the opposition away from the argument.

Example

Even though illmatic is may be more lyrical than Carter II, it's not more lyrical than MMLP.

Here this argument is that despite said album being more lyrical than the original one being discussed, it's not more lyrical than another. Which is not the point of the argument and is not being discussed, nor does it refute the original argument in any way.

10) Association Fallacy- When somebody claims that since X has certain qualities, than Y has the same qualities at hand because they are both related to each other, ignoring any individual differences that they may have.

Example- Royce is from Detroit, and Eminem is from Detroit, thus Royce is a great multi syllable rapper because he grew up in the same area as Eminem.

Here the person is just trying to associate Royce with Eminem and their qualities because they have that connection of both hailing from Detroit, and falling back on that as proof when in reality it's not sufficient evidence.