CLASSIFICATION OF INFORMAL FALLACIES

1. ARGUMENTUM AD HOMINEM ( ARGUMENT AGAINST MAN)

-

Attacking the person making the argument, rather than the argument
itself, when the attack on the person is completely irrelevant to the
argument the person is making.

EXAMPLES:

Francis Bacons philosophy should be dismissed since Bacon was

removed from his chancellorship for dishonesty.

Hes not a great athlete; hes a fraud, a cheat and a liar. Thats why not
everybody is happy for Lance.

2. ARGUMENTUM AD POPULUM ( ARGUMENT TO THE PEOPLE)

-

When the claim that most or many people in general or of a particular

group accept a belief as true is presented as evidence for the claim.

EXAMPLES:

The fact that the majority of our citizens support the death penalty proves
that it is morally right.

Gods must exist, since every culture has some sort of belief in a higher
being.

3. ARGUMENTUM AD VERECUNDIAM ( ARGUMENT TO AUTHORITY)

- Using an authority as evidence in your argument when the authority is
not really an authority on the facts relevant to the argument. As the
audience, allowing an irrelevant authority to add credibility to the claim
being made.

EXAMPLES:

My 5th grade teacher once told me that girls will go crazy for boys if they
learn how to dance. Therefore, if you want to make the ladies go crazy for

you, learn to dance.

The Pope told me that priests can turn bread and wine into Jesus body
and blood. The Pope is not a liar. Therefore, priests really can do this.

4. ARGUMENTUM AD MISERICORDIAM (ARGUMENT TO PITY)

- The attempt to distract from the truth of the conclusion by the use of
-

pity.
also known as: appeal to sympathy, the Galileo argument [form of]

EXAMPLES:

I am a single parent, solely responsible for the financial support of my

children.
I'm positive that my work will meet your requirements. I really need the job

since my grandmother is sick"

5. ARGUMENTUM AD BACULUM (ARGUMENT TO FEAR OF FORCE)
- When force, coercion, or even a threat of force is used in place of a
reason in an attempt to justify a conclusion.
EXAMPLES:

if you dont spend your summer vacation at your grandmas house, I will

deduct your allowance this coming semester.

You should apologize to her immediately or else you will not see her
anymore

6. ARGUMENTUM AD IGNORANTIAM (ARGUMENT TO IGNORANCE)

- An ignorance fallacy occurs when a person mistakenly believes
something to be true that is not, because he or she does not know
enough about the subject to know otherwise.
EXAMPLES:

Since the class has no questions concerning the topics discussed in class,
the class is ready for a test.

No one on the council objected to the idea that he proposed, so everyone

must think its a great idea.