Oh, fallacies!

So.. as stupid as this may sound, I've never really known about fallacies. That is, until this year, when we learned about them. To tell anda the truth, I felt pretty stupid after that English lesson.. not because I had never known about fallacies, but because I realized that I used them in A LOT of arguments. O.o

So I guess I just wanna senarai a couple of popular ones, and define them for any of anda who also don't really know about fallacies, and just talk a bit about them and how I've used them before.

1. ad hominem
This is when the arguer attacks the person instead of the argument they're making.

Well well well well. I'm not sure if I do this often, because I can't bring myself to remember a time I criticized a person instead of their argument, but then again, I could have been doing it subconsciously. Here is an example of a person using the ad hominem fallacy:

Person 1: Anjing are better than cats.
Person 2: No, Kucing are better!
Person 1: Anjing are better because they are lebih trusting and loving than cats.
Person 2: Kucing are loving creatures too.
Person 1: I didn't say Kucing weren't loving, but Anjing are lebih loving than them.
Person 2: You're such an idiot! Any smart person knows that Kucing are better!

See? If anda were the saat person in this argument, anda probably even wouldn't realize that anda were using a fallacy. Why? Because it's just a reflex anda have when you're in an argument, and you're frustrated. It might be because anda don't have any evidence atau facts to support your side of the argument left, atau maybe you're in the heat of the argument and anda say that out of passion. Who knows… the point is it's stupid. It might not sound stupid then, but if anda review the argument later on, anda realize how stupid it was. What's even worse is that the person you're arguing with will probably notice that you're attacking them instead of their argument, and that doesn't give off a good impression. -.-

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2. ad ignorantiam
When anda state that a specific belief is true because we don't know that it's not true.

Haha! Sorry, it's just that I use this one….. A LOT. I'm Christian, and so I'm always ready to defend the existence of God, but I've never realized how often my arguments use this fallacy. Here's an example:

Atheist: God doesn't exist.
Me: Yes, He does.
Atheist: How do anda know that?
Me: Because anda don't know for sure that He doesn't. There isn't any real evidence.

O.O
I do this in almost any argument about religion, and I'm sure anda do too in any kind of argument really. It's hard not to… I mean, it seems like the PERFECT response, when in fact, it isn't. I guess it's an easy-way-out, when anda don't have any evidence to back yourself up. Heh. Quite sad really, so be careful about this one! It's hard to not use it at times..

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3. Argument from authority
When anda state that something is true because an individual of high authority atau power says so.

"You must Cinta others because God berkata so." This is probably my state of mind at all times, but in this case, it isn't a bad thing because I'm not arguing with anyone, and when was loving someone a bad thing?! An example of this fallacy would be:

Person 1: Aliens exist.
Person 2: How do anda know?
Person 1: Well, there have been UFO sightings sejak airline pilots, so that's proof that they exist.
Person 2: Can anda trust these airline pilots?
Person 1: Of course! They are trained observers, they're reliable, and don't panic in emergencies. They are completely trustworthy.

I'm not sure how many of anda use this fallacy in your arguments, but it's understandable because it seems like common sense to trust any professional. The only thing anda need to know is that highly educated people can sometimes be wrong~ we are human after all.

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4. Post Hoc atau Doubtful Cause
Because one event follows another, the first event must be the cause for the second.

I'm pretty sure that people do this a lot, because it seems logical, and sometimes it could be the case. However, there are other factors that can cause a situation, besides the prior event. Here is an example of this fallacy:

I didn't do my Math homework, and I failed the seterusnya Math test we had. My Math teacher failed me because I didn't do his/her work.

..or another example I like:

Since Obama has come into office; unemployment has increased. Obama's policies have caused lebih people to be unemployed.

As anda can see, it's pretty straightforward. This fallacy is very much about assumptions, so anda can pretty much say that whenever anda make an assumption, anda might be using this fallacy! Be cautious assumptive arguments.

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5. False Analogy
Assuming a similarity between two things, people, atau situations when in fact the two things being compared are not similar in any fashion.

I do this a lot, especially when I'm arguing with my brother. I guess it's because I'm trying to think of a comparison, and go with the first thing that comes to mind, which often ends up being a useless comparison. Here is an example of a false analogy:

This bebola daging, meatball pasta tastes like heaven!

A simple harmless face…. laced with a false analogy. A bebola daging, meatball pasta has a physical existence, whereas heaven is spiritual. Therefore, anda cannot compare the two, because they are completely different from each other. On the other hand, anda won't be taken to jail if anda do, because you're merely hyperbole to express and emphasize how anda feel about the pasta. The only time anda shouldn't use a hyperbole is if you're trying to make a serious argument… anda don't want to exaggerate then, but be clear and concise.

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6. Non sequitur
When anda make an argument in which the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises.

Sounds kinda like the post hoc right? Well, it's similar in some ways, but the difference is that the post hoc is due to a lack of a casual connect, but the non sequitur fallacy is due to a lack of a logical connection. Non sequiturs are jumps in logic, that really make no sense. Here is an example, I had to take it from this site: <link> because I actually had trouble thinking of my own:


There is a God; the Bible says God created the Earth about 6000 years ago. Therefore, the world is only about 6000 years old.

I'm not sure if I even need to say much about this, because it's pretty straightforward. I can't say that I use this fallacy a lot, but anda can think of times when anda might have. :P

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7. Slippery Slope
Stating that an event will result from another without any argument for the inevitability of the event in question.

This is one of my favorites, because I use it a lot, and I'm sure other people do too. :D Don't like.. there is one point in your life when you've done this. Probably for emphasis atau something, because this fallacy seems like the kind anda purposely use, not accidentally. Eh, any-who… Here's an example:

We have to stop global warming, otherwise in a couple of years, we'll all be dead!

…another famous one:

anda can never give anyone a break. If anda do, they'll walk over you.

Slippery slopes usually jump a couple of steps, so instead of going from Point A to Point B, anda end up going from Point A to Point E. So, even though global warming is ruining our planet, and will cause HUGE issues in the future, if anda state your argument like I did above, it sounds quite ridiculous. Even the saat example may be true, but anda can't state that giving even one person a break will cause everyone to walk over you. I think all the fallacies I've mentioned have one moral: Think before anda speak. Lol.. otherwise, anda end up sounding quite stupid, for lack of a better word.

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8. Straw Man
When anda misinterpret atau set up a fake/weaker example of someone's argument, and then disagree with the fake argument.

I do this a lot, except I don't even know when I do. Whenever I argue about the existence of God, I usually do this because it's just easier than trying to argue with the real argument, lol. I don't do it on purpose though, but I'm pretty sure that all them Atheists I argue with think I am.. ^.^ Here is an example:

Boy: Dad, can we get a dog?
Father: No son.
Boy: But why?
Father: Because a dog is a lot of work, and we don't have the time and patience to take care of one.
Boy: A dog would be great protection! anda want to leave our house unprotected!

Seems kind of silly when anda read it, but anda probably do that everyday if your life. Face it, anda do. Whether on purpose atau not, anda do because that's just the way it is. Great debaters always make sure to argue with the other person's argument, and not with a straw man. I am not a great debater, so I always make that mistake. It's actually REALLY hard.. anda have no idea. It's like a subconscious thing. :P Argh, stupid straw man.

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9. Begging the soalan atau Circular Reasoning
Making an argument in which each stage of the argument uses the sebelumnya stage as justification.

Basically, going around in circles. I do this a lot as well, because like most of these fallacies, it just makes things easier! It also makes a lot of sense while typing the argument, but when someone points it out and anda re-read what anda wrote…. yeah, it looks pretty dumb. Here is an example:

Believer: God does exist.
Non-believer: How do anda know?
Believer: Because the Bible says so.
Non-believer: How do anda know the Bible is saying the truth?
Believer: Because it was written sejak God.

I actually googled this example, and the first time I read it, I didn't see the fallacy. It seemed like a perfectly normal and valid argument to me! Hahaha! I really need to reevaluate myself. Anyway, after the 3rd read, I got it and I had to perahu nelayan kecil, pukulan myself on the forehead, because I probably use circular reasoning a lot. :P I'm sure anda do as well… let's face it. It's just one of those things that's saat nature…. atau maybe that's just me.

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10. Appeal to popular Opinion
When anda claim that an idea atau belief is true because it's what most people believe.

Another common one, that EVERYONE uses. Don't lie to yourself, anda do it all the time. When anda decide to buy the new iPhone atau new Muzik album sejak Rihanna, you're using this fallacy; the only reason you're buying those items is because EVERYONE says they're great. Here is an example of this fallacy:

Me: I have to go see the Avengers!
Wendy: Why?
Me: Because it's a great movie!
Wendy: How do anda know? anda haven't even watched it..
Me: Because everyone says it's great!

Just a side note: the Avengers actually is a pretty epic movie, so anda should watch it. Anyway, this fallacy is very very popular, because it's usually how we make decisions in life.. lol. However, if you're an independent, strong individual, then perhaps anda don't succumb to using this fallacy. O.o