42 Fallacies

by Michael LaBossiere

A fallacy is an error in reasoning. That is, it is a piece of bad logic. Just as it is a good idea to avoid eating bad food, it is also a rather good idea to avoid bad reasoning. Unfortunately, bad reasoning is all too common—it pours out of the television and infests the web like an army of venomous spiders. Perhaps even worse than the fallacies inflicted from the outside are self-inflicted fallacies. These can lead people to make poor decisions about matters great and small.Fortunately, there is a defense against bad reasoning, namely knowledge. This concise book provides the reader with definitions and examples of forty-two common fallacies—the knowledge a person needs to defend herself in a world awash in fallacies. This short book is not intended to be a handbook on winning arguments or a text on general logic.The book contains the following HominemAd Hominem Tu QuoqueAppeal to the Consequences of a BeliefAppeal to AuthorityAppeal to BeliefAppeal to Common PracticeAppeal to EmotionAppeal to PopularityAppeal to FearAppeal to FlatteryAppeal to NoveltyAppeal to PityAppeal to PopularityAppeal to RidiculeAppeal to SpiteAppeal to TraditionBegging the QuestionBiased GeneralizationBurden of ProofCircumstantial Ad HominemFallacy of CompositionConfusing Cause and EffectFallacy of DivisionFalse DilemmaGambler’s FallacyGenetic FallacyGuilt by AssociationHasty GeneralizationIgnoring a Common CauseMiddle GroundMisleading VividnessPeer PressurePersonal AttackPoisoning the WellPost HocQuestionable CauseRed HerringRelativist FallacySlippery SlopeSpecial PleadingSpotlightStraw ManTwo Wrongs Make a RightTwo Wrongs Make a Right

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Logic, Psychology, Personal Development

59 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2010

Reviews

[Jay Miklovic]

It was OK. The examples were pretty good, and the initial brief definitions were well presented also, however everything in between (over half the book) was painfully redundant. Whoever edited this book could have cut half of this book out. I can't believe how many times 3 consecutive sentences would say the exact same thing in a different way.

If you want a quick reference on fallacies this might useful, just read the two line description at the beginning of each fallacy, then read a few of the authors examples and you'll be set. The rest is mostly useless.

[Chris Sosa]

Typos abound. Ethical dilemmas are over-simplified to the point of inaccuracy in logic examples. The authorial tone is elementary. In short: Skip this one.

[Tori Franco]

This is more of a quick reference book than anything else. I am new to the whole world of philosophy so I'm not sure how accurate the examples are, but it totally made sense. This book isn't one you'd sit down and read. It's more of a book you break out when you need to look up what type of fallacy something is. If that makes sense.

[Ixby Wuff]

A fallacy is an error in reasoning. That is, it is a piece of bad logic. Just as it is a good idea to avoid eating bad food, it is also a rather good idea to avoid bad reasoning. Unfortunately, bad reasoning is all too common—it pours out of the television and infests the web like an army of venomous spiders. Perhaps even worse than the fallacies inflicted from the outside are self-inflicted fallacies. These can lead people to make poor decisions about matters great and small.

Fortunately, there is a defense against bad reasoning, namely knowledge. This concise book provides the reader with definitions and examples of forty-two common fallacies—the knowledge a person needs to defend herself in a world awash in fallacies. This short book is not intended to be a handbook on winning arguments or a text on general logic.

The book contains the following fallacies:

Ad Hominem

Ad Hominem Tu Quoque

Appeal to the Consequences of a Belief

Appeal to Authority

Appeal to Belief

Appeal to Common Practice

Appeal to Emotion

Appeal to Popularity

Appeal to Fear

Appeal to Flattery

Appeal to Novelty

Appeal to Pity

Appeal to Popularity

Appeal to Ridicule

Appeal to Spite

Appeal to Tradition

Begging the Question

Biased Generalization

Burden of Proof

Circumstantial Ad Hominem

Fallacy of Composition

Confusing Cause and Effect

Fallacy of Division

False Dilemma

Gambler’s Fallacy

Genetic Fallacy

Guilt by Association

Hasty Generalization

Ignoring a Common Cause

Middle Ground

Misleading Vividness

Peer Pressure

Personal Attack

Poisoning the Well

Post Hoc

Questionable Cause

Red Herring

Relativist Fallacy

Slippery Slope

Special Pleading

Spotlight

Straw Man

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Two Wrongs Make a Right
**

[Faye]

Quick Run Through

I would have preferred that the fallacies were grouped by type rather than alphabetically. For example, questionable cause should proceed post hoc and confusing cause and effect. I think it would make this pamphlet easier to use as a reference for creating a stronger argument. If you’re evaluating argument, you would be able to evaluate the same argument with similar fallacies without having to guess which ones are related.

I understand the usefulness of alphabetical grouping, but that could be solved with a TOC or index.

[Eureca]

I love how it is written in nice structure: definition, why it happens, and examples.

[Jim]

This is a very nice low cost offering from the Kindle store, it is still only 99 cents. One of the reviewers on Amazon mentioned that it is available as a free PDF as well. While there is nothing startling in this e-book, it is a nice primer if you enjoy engaging in lively discussion on issue from the minor to the important. It will help you examine your own beliefs to avoid committing the very same fallacious thinking. It may even help you prepare for the coming onslaught of wild claims during the political season.

[Bo Jeanes]

Fantastic content that everyone should be familiar with (whether through this book or other sources).

Each fallacy was presented in exactly the same format which made it quite easy to digest and compare them. It can get a bit boring as each chapter felt like a template, but the book is short enough that it is never really a problem.

I look forward to reading "20 More Fallacies" by the same author.

[Niki]

Ever have a conversation (or an argument) with someone and find yourself starting to become convinced, but have this nagging feeling that something's not quite right about their rationale? Chances are someone's employing one of the 42 logical fallacies explained in this book. (It might be you!) Anyone who talks to other humans and cares about the truth should read this book at least once, and then go back and skim it as a refresher every year or so.

[Lori]

A great reference guide for common logical fallacies. Sure, you can easily find all of these on wikipedia, but you can't pad your goodreads book count with that!

Also, I sincerely hope that the number of fallacies presented is a nod to The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fans.

[Miguel]

This book is an informative and readable rundown of 42 common logical fallacies ranging from ad hominem to strawman to two wrongs make a right. The fallacies are explained in detail and examples are provided. A quick read that's fantastic for philosophy students or those simply trying to gain an edge in an argument.

[Michael Foley]

This is a good book to remind yourself of the dirty tricks people use to present their point of view. It may even help you knock down your own internal arguments(don't lie, we all argue with ourselves)and make you take notice of what is a valid point and what is not.

[Ben]

Although I have finished reading this wonderful book, I still keep it on hand when debating others. It is an incredibly useful tool for pointing out the fallacious arguments of others and also a guide for avoiding them yourself.

[Athens]

This book is a compilation, not something that you could really say has an author.

It is a collection and rephrasing of what has been built up over many generations.

The book is not "bad", it is just not particularly new in any way that stands out as positive.

[David Robertus]

A detailed manual of fallacies. If you care about the quality of debate enough to want to inform someone else of why their argument tis the pits (or recognize holes in your own judgement) then this is worth picking up.

[Mounir]

Nice informative book, though as far as I understood, there are some unnecessary repetition of a number of Fallacies under different names. The examples given were in some instances not really appropriate to the Fallacy described. In my opinion, this book needs some revision.

[Andie Rix]

Loved it. A great down and dirty explanation of logical/argumentative fallacies.

[Daniel]

Nice, short, and straightforward summary of 42 of the most common logical fallacies.

Worth reading.

[Kerry]

Useful rather than enjoyable. Interesting, but really a reference work. Wasn't quite what I was expecting.

[Lawrence Bish]

A good reference if you need to have one ready.

[Brent]

Nothing fancy; a decent read.

[Richard Foster]

A short book that's easy to read, clear and informative.

[Peter Arisman]

required reading