The big idea
🎭
Persuasive but broken
A fallacy is a flaw in the structure of reasoning — convincing to hear, yet the conclusion doesn’t follow.
Critical Thinking · Lesson 4
Logical Fallacies
beginner⏱ 14 min · 7 cards
The usual suspects
Nine to know
Tap each move.
Investigate
Fallacy Detective
“You can’t trust her argument about taxes — she failed maths in school.”
Read the quote and name the fallacy.
Nuance
Careful
Common misconception
A fallacy weakens the argument, not necessarily the conclusion — the claim may still be true for other reasons.
Recap
Key takeaways
- ✓A logical fallacy is a flaw in reasoning, not just an unpopular opinion.
- ✓Persuasive arguments can still be logically flawed.
- ✓The nine common fallacies: straw man, ad hominem, false dilemma, slippery slope, circular reasoning, appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, hasty generalization, and post hoc.
- ✓A fallacy weakens the argument, not necessarily the conclusion.
- ✓Naming the fallacy helps you respond to it.
Quick check
What best describes critical thinking?
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