Lecture Notes: List of Fallacies

Understanding Fallacies

Definition: A fallacy is the use of invalid or otherwise faulty reasoning in constructing an argument.
Classification:
- Formal Fallacies: Based on argument structure.
- Informal Fallacies: Based on content and can be subdivided into categories such as improper presumption, faulty generalization, error in assigning causation, and relevance.
Purpose: Often used when common agreement is prioritized over sound reasoning.

Appeal to Probability: Assuming something is true because it is likely to be.
Argument from Fallacy: Assuming a conclusion is false because an argument for it is fallacious.
Base Rate Fallacy: Ignoring prior probabilities when making a judgment.
Conjunction Fallacy: Believing specific conditions are more probable than a single general one.
Non Sequitur: Conclusion does not logically follow from the premises.
Masked-man Fallacy: Substituting identical terms in a statement leads to a true statement being false.

Affirming a Disjunct: Assuming one of two statements must be false if the other is true.
Affirming the Consequent: Assuming the truth of a condition because the outcome is true.
Denying the Antecedent: Assuming a condition is false because a preceding condition is false.

Affirmative Conclusion from a Negative Premise: Positive conclusion from negative premises.
Fallacy of Exclusive Premises: Both premises in a syllogism are negative.
Fallacy of Four Terms: Syllogism with four terms instead of three.
Illicit Major/Minor: Incorrect distribution of terms in syllogistic logic.
Negative Conclusion from Affirmative Premises: Negative conclusion with affirmative premises.

Argument from Incredulity: Believing something is false if one cannot imagine it being true.
Argument to Moderation: Assuming the middle ground is always correct.
Continuum Fallacy: Rejecting a claim due to imprecision.
Definist Fallacy: Defining terms in a biased manner.
Equivocation: Using ambiguous language to mislead.
False Dilemma: Presenting two options as the only possibilities.
Slippery Slope: Assuming a small step will lead to extreme consequences.
Straw Man: Misrepresenting an argument to attack it easily.

Cum Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: Assuming correlation implies causation.
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: Assuming that because one event follows another, it was caused by it.

Gambler's Fallacy: Believing past events affect the probabilities of future independent events.
Regression Fallacy: Attributing trends to non-existent causes.

Ad Hominem: Attacking the person rather than their argument.
Appeal to Authority: Believing a claim is true based on the authority of the person asserting it.
Appeal to Emotion: Manipulating emotions rather than using logical reasoning.
Appeal to Consequences: Arguing based on the desirability of the outcome.

Logical Fallacies - Resources: Emphasize various resources for further reading on logical fallacies and critical thinking.
Books: Suggestions for books that expand on logical fallacies and critical thinking, such as "How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass" and "Fallacies and Argument Appraisal".