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.

[dead prez]

11) Argument from Ignorance- Somebody claims that since there is no evidence at hand, than it cannot possibly be true.

Example

Through my inexperience of listening to Hip Hop music, I have never heard of a rapper better than Lil Wayne.

Basically the person is claiming that since they ignorant of better rappers than Wayne, that they can not possible believe that there is an alternative to X.

12) Sacred Cow fallacy- When somebody's argument lies at the hand that since X is a touchy subject, that they should revere X or just ignore discussion with it altogether.

Example

Big is the King of NY, are you kidding me he died in his prime. Ain't no one better than him, no one, not your underground idols, would admit to the touching him in mic skills.

Here the person tries to make an argument in the fact that since Big is a rap king and revered by others, that he can't be surpassed in mic skills, also trying to use that since a lot of rappers have respect for him, that they couldn't surpass him.

13) Argument from Incredulity- Pretty much the same as argument from ignorance except in this scenario, the person refuses to accept a possible outcome.

Example

Eminem is the best white rapper ever, are you kidding me, no way can there be someone better than him.

Here the person just eliminates all possible scenarios by being a brick wall, nothing more to see here really.

14) Appeal to Emotion- This takes many forms, but basically it's when somebody attempts to use someone's feeling into making them believe a different scenario.

Example

You seem like a smart guy, why are you posting that stupid idea?

This is an appeal to flattery, and the person attempts to change the opposition's side by making them feel good about themselves, without addressing the argument.

15) Appeal to Tradition- Basically going by the fact that since it's been repeated numerous times over, or is the general consesus that others may have always had it's automatically right.

Example

No way can any album be better than SSLP, it's always been the go to album for multi syllables.

Here the person is basically afraid of being subjected to change, and doesn't make an actual argument but sticks to what is generally accepted by the populace.

16) Equivocation- When somebody uses a meaning of a word and tries to use that definition out of context and twist it into something that it doesn't mean.

Example

Rakim is the God MC, thus no one can better than him

Here the person is basically going by the epiphet of the mc's name and stating that as truth, you can also make an argument that the person is appealing to tradition.

17) Undistributed middle- This is when somebody tries to make a claim that everything is available in a cetain set. "Everything in my room is also available in my brother's room, an xbox is in my brother's room, thus my room has an xbox." Opposite would be true however.

Example

Many great lyricists are from NY, Eminem is a great lyricist, thus he is from NY.

Here the person is ignoring that just because Eminem is a great lyricist, and that many great lyricists hail from NY, he is automatically a Yankee.

18) Fallacy Fallacy- When somebody accuses somebody else of a fallacy, but they obviously haven't and are just trying to trick the opposition in a disingenous way.

Example

Person A: Nas is a better lyricist than Eminem

Person B: That's a strawman fallacy

The person doesn't explain how he made an erronous fallacy or even chooses a correct one for that matter, not that Person A commited a fallacy to begin with.

19) Argument from Anecdotal Evidence- When somebody tries to prove a point by simply telling others what they have witnessed first hand ignoring any other possible variables that may have played into the scenario.

Example

Hey I've seen first hand what the Hip Hop renaissance was like, I know what I'm talking about and have full authority on the matter.

Here the person is basically using lazy reasoning that since they were there to witness it first hand, that they automatically have all various factors in the scenarios and that their word should be taken as truth and a source for others to follow.

20) Proof by example- Here a person tries to discredit someone or something by posting one example which is an obvious exception the rule as proof.

Example

Jay z got killed by Eminem on Renegade he's a bad collabarator.

Here the person is ignoring the fact that just because the former got outshined, which is a rarirty that it is automatically truth and that it should be taken as evidence to discredit him.

More tomorrow, probably.

[Satire]

You're still a racist.

[Fleka]

You're still a racist.

Yeah, now prove her wrong.

[dead prez]

21) Affirming the Consequent- AKA Converse Error, this is basically claiming that since the conclusion could directly tie into the premise, and than claiming that since the conclusion is true, the premise is also true.

Example

Many great rappers are masters of multi syllable rhyming, since Kid Cudi is a great rapper he is a great multi syllable rhymer.

This is ignoring the fact that Kid Cudi could be a great rapper without having to be a master of multi syllable rhyming.

22)Denying the Antecedent- Pretty much barebones the opposite of the previous fallacy, being that a conclusion is presented that could directly tie back into the premise, but since the conclusion is false, the premise must also be false.

Example

If Eminem could beat Juice in a freestyle battle, than he is a great battle rapper. He lost to Juice, therefore he is a terrible battle rapper.

This is basically ignoring the fact that while Eminem may be a great battler, Juice may simply be a better battle rapper, which by no means discredits Eminem's freestyle skills.

23)Biased Sample- When statistics are taken into consideration but it is not taken into account where it was taken. Never mind the fact that if it was taken in an objective place (though most places aren't) it would still not be a solid argument to make, being an appeal to popularity fallacy.

Example

Everyone in this forum says that Eminem is better than Nas.

The person is conveniently forgetting that the forum is dedicated to Eminem, where there will be tremendous bias in favor of him.

24)Half Truth- When someone tries to provide evidence, but leaves out various critical factors that may shed some new light and wouldn't always support the conclusion.

Example

Encore is a shitty album and any album after it is shit, Eminem has officially fallen off.

This is ignoring the fact that Eminem was in critical condition when he made the album, and was practically a brain dead zombie in the studio, now he's in a much better position to be making music.

25) Hasty generalization- An argument where one tries takes insufficient evidence (almost like half truth), and tries to make a conclusion whilst ignoring key factors like contradictory evidence.

Example

Royce da 5'9 outshined Eminem in Bad Meets Evil, and other great rappers in the past, thus he can outshine just about any respectable rapper.

This is the person ignoring key times when Eminem has outshined Royce in other various songs, as well as other rappers outshining him.

26) Misleading vividness- Pretty much the same as proof by example, except the person goes in detail as to how the scenario happened, when none of it is relevant and is just looking to divert the attention at hand.

Example

Jay z isn't a good collaborator, Eminem outshined him in Renegade, while having a fantastic flow, and multies and going in depth about how society stigmatized him as a rebel that was bad for America's youth.

That's nice and all, but doesn't explain how Jay z is a bad collaborator while simultaneously highlighting Eminem's verses which aren't necessary.

27)False Dichotomy- when someone claims that since two options can logically follow, only one is true, while ignoring other options available.

Example

Eminem has three classics (SSLP, MMP, TES) thus I can not see anyone preferring any other album he may have over his first three.

The person is ignoring the fact that one may simply have a preference for Relapse, Recovery, or even Encore for various reasons that one may not be aware off right away.

28)Correlation implies causation-Basically because A is tied with B, than A causes B.

Many great rappers come from NY, and since Nas is from NY, the reason he's a great rapper in the first place is because he comes from NY.

This argument ignores the fact that Nas coming from NY may not have anything to do with him being a great rapper, and was inspired to rap from other various factors not tied to being a New Yorker.

29)Post hoc ergo prompter hoc- Similar to the previous fallacy, only the person assumes that because A came before B, A caused B.

Example

Ever since Eminem dyed his hair blonde he's been a crazier rapper who excels in self deprecation.

This is ignoring the fact that Eminem may simply have dyed his hair blonde because he wanted too, not because he decided to take an the persona of a rapper who excels in humor.

30)Slippery slope-If you accept one thing than you must be open to the idea that another action may occur, and since the latter action has negative connotations to it, the former should also be reprimanded.

Example

If we accept SSLP is a great album, than we must also accept that Relapse is a great album and we sure as shit don't think so, therefore SSLP is a bad album.

This is basically assuming that since don't accept Relapse as a great album, and SSLP shares characteristics with Relapse that make it a great album, than SSLP must also be a bad album.

More later

[slimshadylappin]

You are such a smart guy. Why do u make such dumb threads

[dead prez]

You are such a smart guy. Why do u make such dumb threads

Appeal to emotion

[Master Chief]

I feel happy and generous.

I think I will randomly say something.

I love you, Prez

[dead prez]

That wasn't random, that was predictable. We already know you're gay, quit trying to get my attention. Go flirt with that genderless Ladgy Gaga wannabe instead.

[DƎRDYPK]

[Master Chief]

That wasn't random, that was predictable. We already know you're gay, quit trying to get my attention. Go flirt with that genderless Ladgy Gaga wannabe instead.

Are you my best friend, Prez?

[slimshadylappin]

You are such a smart guy. Why do u make such dumb threads

Appeal to emotion

kind of the point lol

[Slim Fiasco]

I agree with all that. And I'm actually "guilty" of using the example from "Appeal to Authority" but I throw it as an after-thought upon making my points so I guess I'm good to go, lol. But It does annoy me when people use arguments like "KRS-One said there's a difference between an MC and a rapper", which I absolutely disagree with, so now that somehow makes it a fact.

[dead prez]

Thanks for the serious comment, lol. I actually didn't expect anyone to seriously respond to this, anyways, yeah I'm guilty of a lot of this shit too, when I debate. These fallacies are a lot harder to spot as well, I gave laughably easy examples, you can guarantee that a lot of them are more subtle and you don't even realize you're commiting them in the first place.

That said we have to distinguish between actually comitting fallacies or just stating a fact, like if someone cites Rakim cosigning Eminem, but doesn't try to make apoint through that, than the person didn't commit a fallacy of any sorts.

Bah, more later just these are very draining.

[Slim Fiasco]

You're welcome, lol. And yeah I agree with that as well and it'd be cool to see more of these so sure, keep 'em coming.