Appeal to Pity

Example #1:
I really deserve an A on this paper, professor. Not only did I study during my grandmothers
funeral, but I also passed up the heart transplant surgery, even though that was the first matching
donor in 3 years.
Explanation: The student deserves an A for effort and dedication but, unfortunately, papers are not
graded that way. The fact that we should pity her has nothing to do with the quality of the paper
written, and if we were to adjust the grade because of the sob stories, we would have fallen victim to
the appeal to pity.

Examples of Ignorance Fallacy

You cant prove that there arent Martians living in caves under the surface of Mars, so it is
reasonable for me to believe there are.
No one can actually prove that God exists; therefore God does not exist.
A cat who has roamed freely around a house speaks to a mouse who is hiding behind the wall.
Through the hole in the wall, the cat says to the mouse, "Come on out! All the furniture out here is
made of cheese!"

Equivocation
Example #1:
I want to have myself a merry little Christmas, but I refuse to do as the song suggests and make the
yuletide gay. I don't think sexual preference should have anything to do with enjoying the holiday.
Explanation: The word, gay is meant to be in light spirits, joyful, and merry, not in the
homosexual sense.
Example #2:
The priest told me I should have faith.
I have faith that my son will do well in school this year.
Therefore, the priest should be happy with me.
Explanation: The term faith used by the priest, was in the religious sense of believing in God
without sufficient evidence, which is different from having faith in your son in which years of good
past performance leads to the faith you might have in your son.

Fallacy of Composition
Logical Form:
A is part of B.
A has property X.
Therefore, B has property X.
Example #1:
Each brick in that building weighs less than a pound. Therefore, the building weighs less than a
pound.
Example #2:
Hydrogen is not wet. Oxygen is not wet. Therefore, water (H2O) is not wet.
Example #3:
Your brain is made of molecules. Molecules do not have consciousness. Therefore, your brain
cannot be the source of consciousness.

Fallacy of Division
Logical Form:
A is part of B.
B has property X.
Therefore, A has property X.
Example #1:
His house is about half the size of most houses in the neighborhood. Therefore, his doors must all be
about 3 1/2 feet high.
Explanation: The size of ones house almost certainly does not mean that the doors will be smaller,
especially by the same proportions. The size of the whole (the house) is not directly related to the
size of every part of the house.
Example #2:
I heard that the Catholic Church was involved in a sex scandal cover-up. Therefore, my 102-year-old
Catholic neighbor, who frequently attends Church, is guilty as well!

AGAINST THE PERSON

Logical Form:
Person 1 is claiming Y.
Person 1 is a moron.
Therefore, Y is not true.
Example #1:
My opponent suggests that lowering taxes will be a good idea -- this is coming from a woman who
eats a pint of Ben and Jerrys each night!
Example #2:
Tony wants us to believe that the origin of life was an accident. Tony is a godless SOB who has
spent more time in jail than in church, so the only information we should consider from him is the
best way to make license plates.
Appeal to Force
Logical Form:
If you dont accept X as true, I will hurt you.
Example #1:
Melvin: Boss, why do I have to work weekends when nobody else in the company does?
Boss: Am I sensing insubordination? I can find another employee very quickly, thanks to Craigslist,
you know.
Example #2:
Jordan: Dad, why do I have to spend my summer at Jesus camp?
Dad: Because if you dont, you will spend your entire summer in your room with nothing but your
Bible!
Appeal to the people
Since 88% of the people polled believed in UFOs, they must exist.
Its silly for you to claim that Hitler would not have attacked the United States if they hadnt entered
World War II. Everyone knows that he planned to conquer the world.
Brand X vacuum cleaners are the leading brand in America. You should buy Brand X vacuum
cleaners.
FALSE CAUSE (POST HOC)
Example
(1) Most people who are read the last rites die shortly afterwards.
Therefore:
(2) Priests are going around killing people with magic words!
This argument commits the post hoc fallacy because it infers a causal connection based solely on
temporal order.

Hasty Generalization
Logical Form:
Sample S is taken from population P.
Sample S is a very small part of population P.
Conclusion C is drawn from sample S and applied to population P.
Example #1:
My father smoked four packs of cigarettes a day since age fourteen and lived until age sixty-nine.
Therefore, smoking really cant be that bad for you.
Example #2:
Four out of five dentists recommend Happy Glossy Smiley toothpaste brand. Therefore, it must be
great.

Begging the Question

Logical Form:
Claim X assumes X is true.
Therefore, claim X is true.
Example #1:
Paranormal activity is real because I have experienced what can only be described as paranormal activity.
Example #2:
The reason everyone wants the new "Slap Me Silly Elmo" doll is because this is the hottest toy of the season!