Posts tagged logical-fallacy

Cherry Picking

Critical Thinking

Selecting only the evidence that supports your conclusion Climate change deniers love to point to cold winters. “Record snowfall. So much for global warming.” They’re ignoring the global temperature trends,… Read More

Hasty Generalization

Critical Thinking

Three examples do not a universal truth make Somebody says they won’t hire anyone under 25 because “young people don’t want to work.” Asked how many young people they’ve actually… Read More

Appeal to Nature

Critical Thinking

Arsenic is natural. Vaccines aren’t. Choose accordingly. “Chemical-free.” “All-natural ingredients.” “The way nature intended.” These phrases sell billions of dollars of products every year. They work because somewhere in human… Read More

Appeal to Novelty

Critical Thinking

New doesn’t mean better – it means unproven Appeal to tradition says this is old, therefore it’s good. Appeal to novelty says the exact opposite – this is new, therefore… Read More

Appeal to Tradition

Critical Thinking

Just because we’ve always done it doesn’t mean we should keep doing it “We’ve always done it this way.” Four of the most dangerous words in policy, business, and everyday… Read More

Complex Question

Critical Thinking

Questions that bury assumptions you haven’t agreed to Somebody asks – “now that you’ve admitted the policy failed, what’s your plan to fix it?” You never admitted it failed. But… Read More

Loaded Question

Critical Thinking

Questions that trap you by hiding their assumptions “Have you stopped beating your wife?” Yes or no, you’re trapped. Say yes, and you’ve admitted you used to beat her. Say… Read More