1.1 Types of logical fallacies transcript

Ad hominem

Attacking a person rather than their belief or argument.

For example: ‘You really think the Earth is round? I can’t believe you would be that stupid!’

Correlation/causation

Incorrectly assuming that one thing is the cause of another.

For example: ‘Never get a vaccine. I got one once and the next thing I knew, I was in a coma on life support for two weeks.’

Anecdotal evidence

Using a personal experience or an experience that has been shared with you as the basis of an argument.

For example:  ‘My friend saw the Prime Minister in a restaurant, and he said he was so rude to the staff. I can’t believe they let people like that run the country!’

Burden of proof

Making a claim and challenging people who disagree to prove it wrong. Placing the responsibility of finding proof on the person who disagrees.

For example:

Person A: Aliens have visited Earth!

Person B: No, they haven’t.

Person A: OK then, prove that they haven’t.

Appeal to authority

Accepting a claim simply because it comes from a figure of authority, rather than finding facts for oneself.

For example: ‘This product is endorsed by a doctor, so it must be healthy.’

Appeal to emotion

Attempting to convince someone by manipulating them into an emotional response rather than using a valid argument.

For example: “I know you’ve had your leave booked in for a few months… but if you don’t swap your days off with me, I won’t be able to spend time with my children and I’ll have to pay to put them in school holiday care, which they really hate.”