Fallacies in Reasoning

When someone:

• engages in faulty generalisations (confusing ‘some’ with ‘all’) or oversimplification
• misunderstands cause and effect (post hoc ergo propter hoc)
• uses tautology (saying the same thing twice)
• uses false analogy
• uses non-sequitur (‘it does not follow’)
• attacks a person or a person’s background, instead of the person’s ideas (ad hominem)
• uses slippery slope reasoning
• reflects a search for perfect solutions
• equivocates
• inappropriately appeals to common opinion (ad populum)
• appeals to questionable authority
• appeals to emotions
• attacks a straw person
• presents a faulty/false dilemma (either/or)
• engages in wishful thinking
• explains by naming
• diverts attention from the issue (eg ignoring the question)
• distracts with glittering generalities
• begs the question (sleight of hand)