FALLACY Short Description Examples
1.Argumentum ad Hominem came from Latin word “homo” which “How can we believe him
Hominem means man. This fallacy literally means hitting when he talks about social
“Attacking the Person” the person below the belt instead of focusing distancing, he is a lawyer
on the issue at hand. who is a liar.”
2. Argumentum ad Baculum is a Latin word which means scepter “It’s Showtime” is the best
Baculum or stick. A scepter is a symbol of authority. noontime show on TV. If you
(Appeal to Force) Normally it is the Pope who carries it in his don’t believe me, I won’t let
hands. This is committed when a person uses you watch the TV.
threat or force to advance an argument.
3. Argumentum ad Misercordiam came from Latin word “Forgive me officer, I am
Misercordiam Misericordia which means pity or compassion. heart-broken because my
(Appeal to Pity) A person uses emotion such as pity to convince girlfriend dumped me
someone without any reason that’s
why I drank 10 bottles of
beer. I did not mean to hurt
the bystander.”
4. Argumentum ad Populum is the Latin word for people. Most of “I’m sure you want to have
Populum TV commercials are guilty of this argument an iphone. Almost 80% of
“Appeal to people”/ which exploit people’s vanity, desires, etc. your schoolmates are using
Bandwagon fallacy it.”
5. Argumentum ad Traditio means tradition. Advancing an idea All of us in the family, from
Tradition since it has been practice for a long time. our ancestors up to now, are
“Appeal to Tradition” devouted Catholics, so it is
only right that you will be
baptized as a Catholic.
6. Argumentum ad Ignorantiam a Latin word for ignorance. According to Zecharia
Ignorantiam Whatever has been proven false must be true Sitchin, the author of the
“Appeal to Ignorance” and vice versa book “Cosmic Code, “Adam
was the first test tube baby.
Since nobody proves
otherwise, therefore it is
true.”
7. Petitio Principii According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary “God exists because the
(Begging the Question) (www.merriam- Bible says so. The Bible
webster.com>dictionary>petitioprincipii) is inspired. Therefore, we
, it is a fallacy in which a conclusion is taken for know that God
granted in the premises. Also called “circular Exists.”
argument.”
8. Hasty This fallacy is committed when one reaches a Our neighbor who is a police
Generalization generalization based on insufficient evidence officer was convicted of
being a drug dealer,
therefore, all police officers
are drug dealers.
9. Cause and Effect Assuming that the effect is related to a cause “My teacher didn’t collect
because both events occur one after the other. the homework two weeks in
a row when my friend was
absent. Therefore, my friend
being absent is the reason
why my teacher doesn’t
collect the homework.”
10. Fallacy of Infers that something is true of a part, is true of “You are a doctor, therefore
Composition a whole you came from a family of
doctors.”
11. Fallacy of Infers that something is true of the whole, must “Your family is smart,
Division also be true on its parts therefore you are smart.”
12. Fallacy of Using the same term in a different situation “Humans walk by their legs.
Equivocation with different meaning. The table has legs.
Therefore, the table walks by
its legs.”
