Appeal to Force (Argumentum ad Baculum)
Threats aren’t arguments - but they reveal when someone can’t make one Somebody makes an argument. The response they get - “you better agree with this, or you’ll lose your job.” They question a policy. The response - “keep talking like that and see what happens to your reputation.” They express an opinion. The response…
Appeal to Emotion
Your emotions are valid, but they’re not arguments “Think of the children.” Every time those four words show up in a policy debate, critical thinking should go on high alert. Not because children don’t matter - they obviously do. It’s because that phrase is almost never followed by evidence. It’s followed by an emotional appeal…
Genetic Fallacy
Where an idea comes from doesn’t tell you if it’s true Somebody presents research findings. The response they get - “that study came from a conservative think tank. Obviously biased.” They share historical context. The response - “you got that from Wikipedia. Not a real source.” They make an argument. Somebody says - “you only…
Guilt by Association
Bad people can hold correct positions - that’s not a contradiction Somebody proposes a policy idea. The response they get back is - “you know who else supported something like that? Stalin.” They cite a study. Somebody says - “that researcher once spoke at a conference sponsored by a controversial organization. Guess we can’t trust…
Tu Quoque (You Too)
When hypocrisy becomes the whole argument “You’re saying we should cut carbon emissions? Your country is one of the biggest polluters on the planet.” “You’re criticizing corporate greed? You own stocks.” “You think people should eat less meat? You’re wearing leather shoes.” This is tu quoque - Latin for “you too.” It’s a specific flavor…
Red Herring
How to derail a conversation without anyone noticing Somebody’s in a debate about school funding. The numbers are clear, the arguments are laid out, and then somebody on the other side says - “you know what the real problem is? Broken families. Until we fix the family structure in this country, throwing money at schools…
Straw Man
Why defeating fake arguments is easier than engaging with real ones Somebody proposes a moderate position on gun control - let’s say universal background checks. And the response they get back is something like - “so you want to confiscate every gun in America and leave law-abiding citizens defenseless.” They didn’t say that. They didn’t…
Translating with Trust: The Principle of Charity
The Principle of Charity demands you interpret arguments in their strongest possible form - not to concede they’re right, but to ensure you actually understand what you’re rejecting. Steel man, not straw man.
The Syllogism Test: How to Dismantle Bad Arguments
When an argument sounds reasonable but feels wrong, rebuild it as a syllogism. The hidden premise is usually where it falls apart. Works on AI doomers and everyone else.
Reading the Fine Print: Unmasking Hidden Assumptions
Every argument has hidden assumptions connecting evidence to conclusions. Learning to find them - and evaluate them - is how you stop accepting bad reasoning from your own side.
The Logical Bridge: What Is an Inference?
Why some conclusions are guaranteed and others are just really good guesses Essay 11 covered the difference between an argument and a fight. An argument has premises leading to a conclusion. A fight has emotions leading to exhaustion. Congratulations - you now know more about reasoning than most of the people who argue on the…
Arguments vs. Fights: Defining the Conclusion and Premises
Why your Thanksgiving dinner debate was probably just conclusions dressed up as reasoning Picture this. Somebody is at Thanksgiving dinner and their uncle corners them in the kitchen to explain why climate change is a hoax. He talks for fifteen minutes. His voice gets louder. He mentions Al Gore, something about ice cores, and the…