List of fallacies people use a lot without even knowing

ADFSDF1996

There are many fallacies people like to use in order to make a point. Usually the people who use these fallacies are oblivious they are even committing a fallacy. Keep in mind that some fallacies have subgroups.

1.) Ad hominem: The most common fallacy, it’s used as a direct attack on the person rather than the argument that person is proposing.

You are a piece of...
You are a piece of...

2.)The red herring: A fallacy where a person ignores the main point by making an irrelevant remark to divert attention. This is usually done when the person has no other way of defending their point, so they resort to diverting tactics to make it look like they are still capable of defending their point.

Anyways...
Anyways...

3.) Reductio ad Hitlerum: This fallacy is mostly common in political debates, it’s when a individual compares a opponent to Hitler just because of a disagreement. This is also called the “Nazi card”.

You’re a Nazi because you don’t support what I support!
You’re a Nazi because you don’t support what I support!

4.)appeal to pity: One of the appeals to emotion. When people use this fallacy they attempt to shame a person for having a different opinion or belief on a controversial subject by trying to make them feel guilty through emotions. Alternatively they may try to guilt a person into supporting something.

Come on don’t be like that
Come on don’t be like that

5.)moral high ground fallacy/sanctimony: This fallacy is often used when debating about bad things done by a specific country. It has a “Yeah what we did was bad at least we didn’t do what they did.” sound to it. In other words, a person tries to claim their side as morally superior because while their side has flaws, they feel that they aren’t as catastrophic as the other side’s flaws. Basically this fallacy is often used to justify an immoral action. For example people who for some reason stubbornly try to “justify” the internment of Japanese-Americans and Japanese-Canadians will use this fallacy by saying “yeah ugh, at least we didn’t do what the axis powers were doing.”

I have better morals than you
I have better morals than you

6.)appeal to force: One of the worst fallacies you can use is when you outright threaten your opponent. “You better support us or else.” Once a person uses this fallacy, that person has already lost the debate.

An appeal to force can cause these guys to show up under certain circumstances.
An appeal to force can cause these guys to show up under certain circumstances.

7.)Tu Quoqe: A fallacy used to call out similar flaws of another person’s argument. It’s similar to the moral high ground fallacy but it has a “You did bad things too” sound to it.

You passed gas too!
You passed gas too!

8.) Straw man: Basically you misterpret an argument in order to facilitate your attack on the person’s argument and give the illusion that you are making a valid argument.

Anybody can knockdown a strawman but only a few can knockdown a steelman.
Anybody can knockdown a strawman but only a few can knockdown a steelman.

9.)Non sequitur: A very unusual fallacy that is similar to the red herring but a non sequitur is a random remark that doesn’t connect to the person’s original argument.

The sky is blue because I like my steak medium well.
The sky is blue because I like my steak medium well.

10.)Argument by pigheadedness: One of the most frustrating fallacies a person can commit. A person who commits this fallacy will basically act stubborn and refuse to even take an well formed argument into consideration because the person is too stubborn or in denial.

Blah, blah, blah I don’t want to believe it.
Blah, blah, blah I don’t want to believe it.

11.)Slippery slope: A very common fallacy that sounds like fear mongering. But when a person commits this fallacy they try to warn someone of how an action can lead to over exaggerated consequences. Here’s an example, “Conservatives will eventually oppress us!” It’s both a slippery slope and a type of political mudslinging.

Don’t over exaggerate to make a point.
Don’t over exaggerate to make a point.

12.)Ad Hoc: When a person wants something to be true or not true but don’t have valid evidence to support this claim, they’ll resort to this fallacy. Several religious people and anti theists tend to use this fallacy a lot. However a better example is the hyper-diffusionists who claim that all of the world’s major civilizations were originally founded by a “long lost civilization” that happens to be the same race the hyper-diffusionist is. Yet these hyper-diffusionists don’t have any valid evidence to support their claims and can’t even argue against the actual evidence that contradicts their claims. So in that case, they not only are using ad hoc but also the argument by pigheadedness.

Almost all hyper-diffusionist points have been debunked or are based on wishful thinking.
Almost all hyper-diffusionist points have been debunked or are based on wishful thinking.

13.) Appeal to authority: If a person automatically claims that something is true or not true because a specific authority figure or group said it, has committed the Appeal to authority fallacy because they have neither fact checked nor cared to analyze the opposing argument. Here’s an example “It’s true because Huffington post, Buzzfeed and CNN said it.”

Yeah my sources are 100% accurate and totally not biased.
Yeah my sources are 100% accurate and totally not biased.

14.)Ad populum: A very tricky fallacy, a person who uses this fallacy will claim that something is right because most people do, believe or say it. “Everyone gets drunk, why shouldn’t I?”

Brainwashed sheep
Brainwashed sheep

15.)Ipse dexit: A fallacy where a person argues a point without proof, they say “because I said it, that’s why”. People who do this, either are big cheese or they are just trying to toy with people. However, it’s very hard to spot this fallacy. If a person says “I think” or “in my opinion” and give a reason why then it’s not Ipse dexit even if they cite no sources.

Trust me I’m an expert on this, I know I’m right.
Trust me I’m an expert on this, I know I’m right.

16.) appeal to ignorance: This is the fallacy of assuming your argument is right because nobody has been able to disprove it. Both religious people and anti theists use this fallacy against each other very often. “There’s no evidence for the existence of a God, therefore there is no God.” or “ There’s no definite proof that there is no God, therefore God is real.”

What’s the matter, can’t prove/disprove my argument?
What’s the matter, can’t prove/disprove my argument?

17.)Argument from Fallacy: Everyone commits fallacies and just because a argument coontains a fallacy, it doesn’t necessarily mean a argument is wrong. Concluding that an argument is wrong just because it has a fallacy is known as the argument from fallacy.

You may have a fallacy(down) in your argument but it doesn’t(but not out) always mean your argument is wrong.
You may have a fallacy(down) in your argument but it doesn’t(but not out) always mean your argument is wrong.

18.) Hasty generalization: A very common fallacy in which a person jumps to conclusions without any proper evidence to support their claim.”He looks mean, therefore he probably beat up a few people before.” “He’s wearing a suit, therefore he’s rich.”

The results of making hasty generalizations.
The results of making hasty generalizations.

19.) Sweeping generalization: Stereotypes are the perfect example, when you assume all people of a certain group are a certain way, you are making a sweeping generalization.

You’ve probably all done it at least once.
You’ve probably all done it at least once.

20.) Appeal to pride: Of course, one of the most irritating fallacies used. People use their own pride as a way of supporting their argument. “I’m 6’2”, I can be a great mixed martial artist.” and then that person loses to a much shorter person and starts throwing a tantrum while making excuses.

That look you give to someone who talks the talk but can’t walk the walk.
That look you give to someone who talks the talk but can’t walk the walk.

Bonus: False dichotomy is the fallacy where only two options are presented even though other options are possible. For example, "You are either a liberal or a conservative."

There are many more fallacies but these are some of the most commonly used.

List of fallacies people use a lot without even knowing
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