Logical Fallacies and You Part 1

I believe that arguments are made for the single purpose of coming to a single point. The problem is, when someone supports a point that is shown to be wrong. People generally don't like being wrong, and as a result, will do anything to make it appear that they aren't. This is where logical fallacies come into play. They are methods of argument that look valid, but aren't. They only slow down the argument, while one party tries to disprove them. Here is a non-exhaustive list of common logical fallacies. The ones that Victor makes frequently will have a (V) next to them.

-Ad Hominem: Basically, you attack the arguer instead of the argument. Just because someone is not nice or not smart does not mean they are wrong.
--Appeal to Hypocrisy: When you say someone can't condemn something when they themselves participate in that something. Just because someone smokes does not mean they can't talk about the negative effects of smoking.
--Circumstantial Ad Hominem: When you say someone can't support something because they have a vested interest in it.
--Style Over Substance: Attacking the way an argument is presented instead of the argument itself. For an example, if this gets popular, read the comments. At least someone will get mad at my organization of this post.

-Anecdotal Fallacy (V): When someone uses an anecdote or personal story to disprove a statement. "My Grandma smoked for years and is still alive, therefore smoking doesn't kill." Anecdotes (If they are true) can only be used to disprove absolutes like "Smoking always kills."

-Argument Ad Nauseam (V): Repeating an argument until people stop responding, then claiming you're right.

-Chewbacca Defense: Named after a gag in South Park. Basically you confuse your enemy to the point where they give up. Used in many political systems.

-Confirmation Bias (V): When you interpret new evidence to support your own beliefs when they may not be confined to those.

-False Cause (V): Assuming correlation=causation. Just because value A went up and value B went up does not mean that value A going up caused value B to go up. Most likely there is either a third factor or it was random chance.

-False Dichotomy (V): When you give only two options when there are three or more options.

-Golden Mean Fallacy: When a compromise is suggested that satisfies neither party's needs or wants. "Kelly wants to kill all puppies. John wants all puppies to survive. Therefore, we should kill half the puppies." Kelly isn't happy because there are puppies alive and John isn't happy because puppies were killed.

-Moving the Goalposts: When an opponent meets previously agreed on standards you change those standards.

-Proof by Examples (V): Giving an non-exhaustive list and using that to show something must be true. NOTE: By giving a long list you CAN say it is probably true is there isn't evidence it isn't.

-Slippery Slope Fallacy: Believing that giving into one thing will eventually make us give in to a similar but more radical thing. "Social Security will lead the country to Communism." or "Letting gays marry will mean we'll have to eventually let pedophiles marry children."

That's all I've got for now. Next week there should be more, if I don't find something else to address.
~Daniel Weber