Rhetoric

What is Appeal to guilt?

Using guilt or shame to pressure acceptance of a claim instead of addressing its merits.

What is Appeal to fear?

Manipulating through fear of negative consequences to gain acceptance of a position.

What is Appeal to authority?

Citing an authority figure as evidence when they lack relevant expertise on the topic.

What is Equivocation?

Using ambiguous or shifting word meanings to mislead or create confusion.

What is Comparative fallacy?

Justifying a position as better by comparing it to something worse without proving its own merit.

What is Appeal to nature?

Arguing that something is good because it is natural or bad because it is unnatural.

What is Guilt by association?

Rejecting an argument based on its association with a disliked person group or idea.

What is No true Scotsman?

Redefining a term to exclude counterexamples making the original claim unfalsifiable.

What is Fallacy of Composition?

Assuming what is true for parts must be true for the whole.

What is Fallacy of Division?

Assuming what is true for the whole must be true for each part.

What is Burden of proof?

Shifting the responsibility of providing evidence to the wrong party.

What is Tu quoque?

Dismissing an argument because the arguer is inconsistent or hypocritical.

What is Special pleading?

Making exceptions or moving goalposts when a claim is refuted.

What is Loaded question?

Asking a question that assumes an unproven premise forcing the respondent into a trap.

What is Affirming the consequent?

Assuming the antecedent is true because the consequent is true If P then Q therefore P.

What is Anecdotal fallacy?

Using personal stories or isolated cases as evidence for a general claim.

What is Appeal to emotion?

Using emotional manipulation rather than logical reasoning to persuade.

What is Texas sharpshooter?

Cherry-picking data to fit a pattern while ignoring broader context.

What is Suppressed correlative?

Assuming only one of multiple possible options is valid ignoring alternatives.

What is Personal incredulity?

Rejecting a claim because it is personally difficult to understand or imagine.

What is Ambiguity fallacy?

Using vague or unclear language to mislead or obscure meaning.

What is Middle ground fallacy?

Assuming the middle position between two extremes is always correct.

What is Affirming a disjunct?

Concluding one disjunct is true because the other is false when options may not be exhaustive.

What is Appeal to tradition?

Arguing a practice or belief is valid because it has been traditionally accepted.

What is Sunk cost fallacy?

Continuing an action based on past investments ignoring current irrationality.

What is Continuum fallacy?

Denying a distinction between states because no precise boundary exists.

What is Faulty analogy?

Using an analogy that is not comparable or relevant to the argument.

What is Denying the antecedent?

Assuming the consequent is false because the antecedent is false If P then Q not P therefore not Q.

What is False cause?

Assuming causation from correlation post hoc ergo propter hoc.

What is Definist fallacy?

Manipulating definitions to avoid refutation or support an argument.

What is Ecological fallacy?

Assuming individual behavior from group-level data.

What is Etymological fallacy?

Arguing a word's historical meaning determines its current validity or meaning.

What is Quoting out of context?

Using a quote in a way that distorts its original meaning.

What is False equivalence?

Treating unequal things as equal to mislead or create false balance.

What is Historian's fallacy?

Judging past actions by present standards ignoring historical context.

What is Inflation of conflict?

Exaggerating disagreements to make them appear more divisive than they are.

What is Incomplete comparison?

Comparing things without sufficient context or relevant data.

What is Ludic fallacy?

Assuming real life follows simplified models or games ignoring complexity.

What is Moralistic fallacy?

Assuming what ought to be determines what is.

What is Nirvana fallacy?

Comparing real imperfect things to idealized unattainable alternatives.

What is Proof by assertion?

Repeating a claim as if repetition constitutes evidence.

What is Cherry picking?

Selecting only data that supports a position while ignoring contradictory evidence.

What is Psychologist's fallacy?

Assuming one's own perspective is universally applicable to others.

What is Reification fallacy?

Treating abstract concepts as concrete tangible things.

What is Retrospective determinism?

Believing past events were inevitable ignoring the uncertainty at the time.

What is Thought-terminating cliché?

Using a phrase or slogan to end discussion or critical thought.

What is Fallacy of the single cause?

Assuming a complex event has only one cause.

What is Appeal to the stone?

Dismissing a claim by demanding impossible proof.

What is Ignoratio elenchi?

Missing the point of an argument by addressing an unrelated issue.

What is Circumstantial ad hominem?

Attacking a person's circumstances instead of their argument.

What is Tone policing?

Focusing on an argument's tone rather than its content to dismiss it.

What is Association fallacy?

Assuming associated things share the same properties or qualities.

What is Appeal to accomplishment?

Using a person's achievements as evidence for unrelated claims.

What is Courtier's reply?

Dismissing a question by claiming the questioner lacks understanding.

What is Appeal to consequences?

Judging a claim's validity based on its potential consequences.

What is Appeal to novelty?

Arguing something is better simply because it is new.

What is Bulverism?

Dismissing an argument based on the arguer's psychology rather than its merits.

What is Chronological snobbery?

Assuming newer or older things are inherently better.

What is Entitled to my opinion?

Using the right to an opinion as a shield from criticism or justification.

What is Two wrongs make a right?

Justifying an action because others have done the same.

What is Vacuous truth?

A technically true but meaningless statement often based on an empty condition.

What is Fallacy fallacy?

Assuming a claim is false because it uses a logical fallacy.

What is the Toulmin Model?

A framework for argument analysis with six components emphasizing contextual and dialectical nature of arguments. 1) Claim 2) Data 3) Warrant 4) Backing 5) Rebuttal 6) Qualifier

What is Appeal to guilt?

Using guilt or shame to pressure acceptance of a claim instead of addressing its merits.

What is Appeal to fear?

Manipulating through fear of negative consequences to gain acceptance of a position.

What is Appeal to authority?

Citing an authority figure as evidence when they lack relevant expertise on the topic.

What is Equivocation?

Using ambiguous or shifting word meanings to mislead or create confusion.

What is Comparative fallacy?

Justifying a position as better by comparing it to something worse without proving its own merit.

What is Appeal to nature?

Arguing that something is good because it is natural or bad because it is unnatural.

What is Guilt by association?

Rejecting an argument based on its association with a disliked person group or idea.

What is No true Scotsman?

Redefining a term to exclude counterexamples making the original claim unfalsifiable.

What is Fallacy of Composition?

Assuming what is true for parts must be true for the whole.

What is Fallacy of Division?

Assuming what is true for the whole must be true for each part.

What is Burden of proof?

Shifting the responsibility of providing evidence to the wrong party.

What is Tu quoque?

Dismissing an argument because the arguer is inconsistent or hypocritical.

What is Special pleading?

Making exceptions or moving goalposts when a claim is refuted.

What is Loaded question?

Asking a question that assumes an unproven premise forcing the respondent into a trap.

What is Affirming the consequent?

Assuming the antecedent is true because the consequent is true If P then Q therefore P.

What is Anecdotal fallacy?

Using personal stories or isolated cases as evidence for a general claim.

What is Appeal to emotion?

Using emotional manipulation rather than logical reasoning to persuade.

What is Texas sharpshooter?

Cherry-picking data to fit a pattern while ignoring broader context.

What is Suppressed correlative?

Assuming only one of multiple possible options is valid ignoring alternatives.

What is Personal incredulity?

Rejecting a claim because it is personally difficult to understand or imagine.

What is Ambiguity fallacy?

Using vague or unclear language to mislead or obscure meaning.

What is Middle ground fallacy?

Assuming the middle position between two extremes is always correct.

What is Affirming a disjunct?

Concluding one disjunct is true because the other is false when options may not be exhaustive.

What is Appeal to tradition?

Arguing a practice or belief is valid because it has been traditionally accepted.

What is Sunk cost fallacy?

Continuing an action based on past investments ignoring current irrationality.

What is Continuum fallacy?

Denying a distinction between states because no precise boundary exists.

What is Faulty analogy?

Using an analogy that is not comparable or relevant to the argument.

What is Denying the antecedent?

Assuming the consequent is false because the antecedent is false If P then Q not P therefore not Q.

What is False cause?

Assuming causation from correlation post hoc ergo propter hoc.

What is Definist fallacy?

Manipulating definitions to avoid refutation or support an argument.

What is Ecological fallacy?

Assuming individual behavior from group-level data.

What is Etymological fallacy?

Arguing a word's historical meaning determines its current validity or meaning.

What is Quoting out of context?

Using a quote in a way that distorts its original meaning.

What is False equivalence?

Treating unequal things as equal to mislead or create false balance.

What is Historian's fallacy?

Judging past actions by present standards ignoring historical context.

What is Inflation of conflict?

Exaggerating disagreements to make them appear more divisive than they are.

What is Incomplete comparison?

Comparing things without sufficient context or relevant data.

What is Ludic fallacy?

Assuming real life follows simplified models or games ignoring complexity.

What is Moralistic fallacy?

Assuming what ought to be determines what is.

What is Nirvana fallacy?

Comparing real imperfect things to idealized unattainable alternatives.

What is Proof by assertion?

Repeating a claim as if repetition constitutes evidence.

What is Cherry picking?

Selecting only data that supports a position while ignoring contradictory evidence.

What is Psychologist's fallacy?

Assuming one's own perspective is universally applicable to others.

What is Reification fallacy?

Treating abstract concepts as concrete tangible things.

What is Retrospective determinism?

Believing past events were inevitable ignoring the uncertainty at the time.

What is Thought-terminating cliché?

Using a phrase or slogan to end discussion or critical thought.

What is Fallacy of the single cause?

Assuming a complex event has only one cause.

What is Appeal to the stone?

Dismissing a claim by demanding impossible proof.

What is Ignoratio elenchi?

Missing the point of an argument by addressing an unrelated issue.

What is Circumstantial ad hominem?

Attacking a person's circumstances instead of their argument.

What is Tone policing?

Focusing on an argument's tone rather than its content to dismiss it.

What is Association fallacy?

Assuming associated things share the same properties or qualities.

What is Appeal to accomplishment?

Using a person's achievements as evidence for unrelated claims.

What is Courtier's reply?

Dismissing a question by claiming the questioner lacks understanding.

What is Appeal to consequences?

Judging a claim's validity based on its potential consequences.

What is Appeal to novelty?

Arguing something is better simply because it is new.

What is Bulverism?

Dismissing an argument based on the arguer's psychology rather than its merits.

What is Chronological snobbery?

Assuming newer or older things are inherently better.

What is Entitled to my opinion?

Using the right to an opinion as a shield from criticism or justification.

What is Two wrongs make a right?

Justifying an action because others have done the same.

What is Vacuous truth?

A technically true but meaningless statement often based on an empty condition.

What is Fallacy fallacy?

Assuming a claim is false because it uses a logical fallacy.

What is the Toulmin Model?

A framework for argument analysis with six components emphasizing contextual and dialectical nature of arguments. 1) Claim 2) Data 3) Warrant 4) Backing 5) Rebuttal 6) Qualifier

What is Ethos?

Appeal to the credibility or ethical character of the speaker

What is Pathos?

Appeal to the emotions of the audience

What is Logos?

Appeal to logic or reason

What is a metaphor?

Comparing two unlike things to create imagery

What is Parallelism?

Repeating grammatical structures for rhythm

What is Anaphora?

Repeating the same word or phrase at the beginning of clauses

What is Epistrophe or Epiphora?

Repeating a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses

What is Germination?

The repetition of a word or word group within one sentence

What is hyperbole?

Deliberate exaggeration

What is rhetorical question?

A question asked for effect not for an answer

What is an Exclamation?

A forceful statement used for emphasis

What is a simile?

An explicit comparison between two things usually using as or like

What is Personification?

Giving human traits to non-human things

What is Juxtaposition?

Placing two contrasting ideas side-by-side to highlight their differences

What is Slippery Slope fallacy about?

Arguing that a small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of negative events

What is Hasty Generalisation fallacy about?

Drawing a broad conclusion from a small or unrepresentative sample

What is Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy about?

Assuming that if A occurred after B then B must have caused A

What is Genetic Fallacy about?

Judging something based on its origins rather than its current merits

What is Begging the claim fallacy about?

Assuming the conclusion in the premise

What is Circular argument fallacy about?

When the conclusion is restated as the premise

What is False dilemma or false dichotomy fallacy about?

Presenting only two options when more exist

What is Ad hominem about?

Attacking a person's character rather than their opinions or arguments

What is Ad populum or Bandwagon Appeal fallacy about?

Arguing that something is true because many people believe it

What is Red Herring fallacy about?

Introducing irrelevant material to distract from the main issue

What is Straw Man fallacy about?

Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack

What is Moral equivalence fallacy about?

Claiming that minor and major wrongs are equally immoral

What is Appeal to ignorance true believer's form about?

Arguing that a claim is true because it has not been proven false

What is Appeal to ignorance skeptic's form about?

Arguing that something does not exist because there is no evidence for it