The Ad Populum Fallacy This fallacy involves appealing “to the people” rather than to reason. Assent to a conclusion is won not by giving valid arguments, but by arousing the feelings and sentiments of the multitude. In modern life, the propagandist, the demagogue,...
“Logic,” from the Greek word logos, is the science of correct reasoning, and provides tools for analyzing the form and content of arguments. Logic addresses the relationship of premises (or evidence) to conclusions, and helps us determine whether our reasoning is...
Attacking a straw man is a fallacy of logic that occurs when an opponent’s position is misrepresented in order to make it easier to refute. This is very hard to avoid, and points out the need for dialogue with those with whom we disagree. Even if we cannot agree, we...
