Checklist: Lesson 3 - Spotting Logical Fallacies

Common Fallacies to Watch For

Ad Hominem: Identify when someone attacks the person rather than addressing their argument

Appeal to Authority: Recognize when claims rely on authority figures without supporting evidence

False Dilemma: Spot when only two options are presented when more exist

Slippery Slope: Notice unsupported claims that one action will inevitably lead to extreme consequences

Straw Man: Identify when someone misrepresents an opponent’s argument to make it easier to attack

Appeal to Popularity: Recognize when something is claimed to be true just because many people believe it

Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: Watch for assumptions that because B followed A, A must have caused B

Appeal to Emotion: Notice when emotional language is used instead of logical reasoning

Red Herring: Spot when irrelevant topics are introduced to distract from the original issue

Hasty Generalization: Identify when broad conclusions are drawn from limited evidence

Circular Reasoning: Recognize when an argument uses its conclusion as one of its premises

Analyze political speeches and debates for fallacious reasoning

Examine advertising for emotional appeals that bypass logical thinking

Review news commentary for straw man arguments and false dilemmas

Assess social media arguments for ad hominem attacks and appeals to popularity

Evaluate your own reasoning for potential fallacies

Practice identifying the specific fallacy being used

Develop respectful ways to point out fallacies without being confrontational

Focus conversations back to the actual argument when red herrings appear

Ask for evidence when claims rely solely on authority or popularity

Present additional options when faced with false dilemmas

Check your own arguments for potential fallacies before presenting them

Be willing to acknowledge when you’ve used fallacious reasoning

Practice reformulating fallacious arguments into stronger, logical ones

Notice when emotional reactions might be leading you toward fallacious thinking

Develop intellectual honesty about the strength of your own arguments