Logical Fallacies

Here are a few of the most common ones you should watch out for:

• Bandwagon: Everybody’s doing it! So shouldn’t you?
• Begging the Question: Slipping in a false (or not necessarily true) assertion and moving on as if everybody accepted it. Be especially careful when talking about groups that you (and many people around you) belong to. Don’t call America "the greatest nation on the face of the earth" without qualifying it.
• False Analogy: analogies and metaphors are great—when they fit. When they don’t, you’ve got a logical fallacy on your hands. Or rather, on your paper. Just as nearly all male birds are endowed with bright-colored feathers, so is it that guys have a genetic need to show off. Newsflash: guys are not birds. That wasn’t a very good one, let’s see if I can do better: the Spanish take a two hour medio-dia siesta every afternoon, so we should too. That was a little better. One more try: UVSC should put in more parking! After all, the mall has plenty. You may agree with the assertion, but that doesn’t make it any less of a logical fallacy.
• False Dilemma: Just because you say there are only two choices doesn’t make it true. Middle-of-the-road options are often the best. If the city doesn’t add a left-turn light next to the elementary school, more children will be needlessly killed. You could always build a pedestrian overpass, get a crossing guard person, or other options.
• Non Sequitur: Your conclusion isn’t reliably based on your argument. Your back up for an assertion doesn’t really back it up. Like when you claim that Bob is the most popular guy in school because he won the student body presidential election. Or saying that your roommate’s car would be the best one to take to California for Spring break because it gets the best mileage (maybe the best car would be the one with room for everyone on the inside or the one that will make it there and back).
• Oversimplification: This one may often tie into other fallacies. Fact is, our world is complex, full of many causes and effects, many of them immeasurable. Don’t get caught pretending that you understand the reasons for everything.
• Post Hoc (ergo proctor hoc): Translation—after this, therefore because of this. Cause and effect fallacy. I washed my car yesterday, so of course it rained today. I get better grades when I don’t study (just because it happened in the past doesn’t prove that it’s the cause of your better grades). Our football team hasn’t changed our socks ever since our homecoming victory and it’s brought good luck all season. Luck? Maybe your success was due to a little nausea on the other team.