When Logic Fails

Rhetoric is a method of writing or speaking that seeks to persuade an audience. Thus, it is crucial to understand logical fallacies so that they can be identified and avoided when attempting to persuade. As mentioned in another post of mine, logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that weaken the logic of your argument. Down bellow are 10 logical fallacies that state the fallacy in both Latin and (English) as well as give a general definition and example.

1. Argumentum Ad Antiquitatem (the argument to antiquity or tradition): use of historical preferences of the people (tradition) as evidence that the historical preference is correct. Otherwise seen as traditions being passed down with no other explanation, but this was how it was always done. Therefore, we shall continue doing it.

Ex. For three generations, the men in our family went to Harvard and became successful lawyers. Therefore, I am obligated to become a lawyer.

2. Argumentum Ad Hominem (argument directed at the person): ad meaning "man" and hominem meaning "man". Attacking the person rather than the argument.

Ex. A priest and an atheist were debating. The priest announced that nature is too complicated to have no creator. The atheist calls the priest gullible and deluded, and insults his attire. 

3. Argumentum Ad Ignorantiam (argument to ignorance): proposition is true simply because it has not been proven false/true.

Ex. In spite of all the talk, any big foot reports have not been validated. We may assume, therefore, there is no such thing as big foot.

4. Argumentum Ad Miseriocordiam (argument or appeal to pity): when sympathy or compassion is appealed to for the sake of getting a conclusion accepted. 

Ex. Officer there is no reason to give me a traffic ticket for going too fast because I was rushing to go see my mother at the hospital who is in critical condition.

5. Argumentum Ad Nauseam (argument to the point of disgust: i.e., by repetition): to try and prove something by saying it over and over again. However, no matter how many times you repeat something, the statement will become not become any more or less true than what it was in the first place. 

Ex. That movie, "Inside Out" deserves an Oscar for best Animated Feature Film. There are other movies alike, but not as good as this one. Some movies may also deserve such honorable mentions, but not the Oscar because "Inside Out" deserves the Oscar.

6. Argumentum Ad Numeram (argument or appeal to numbers): an attempt to prove something by showing how many people think that it is true. But no matter how many people believe something, that doesn't necessarily make it true or right.

Ex. Everybody at the party is drinking. Therefore, drinking must be the right thing to do.

7. Argumentum Ad Populum (argument or appeal to the public): to prove something by showing that the public agrees with what you have to say.

Ex. A lot of people believe that replacing a meal for a juice is good for the body and mind. Therefore, this must be true.

8. Argumentum Ad Verecundiam (argument or appeal to authority): to demonstrate the truth of a proposition by citing some person who agrees, even if that person has to expertise in that field.

Ex. According to my sixth grade teacher, girls go crazy for boys when they learn to play the guitar. Therefore, if you want to make the girls go crazy for you, learn to play the guitar.

9. Non Sequitar ("It does not follow"): any argument that does not follow what was previously stated. 

Ex. A writer writes about events A and B, but then jumps to event D leaving out event C as an argument. The person thought of event C in their head, but did not put it down on paper.

10. Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (after this, therefore because of this): fallacy of assuming that A caused B simply because A happened prior to B.

Ex. After the child got her vaccinations she broke her leg. For that reason, the vaccine caused the child's leg to break.