Academic Application

Fallacies have always intrigued me. So on this fine day, I have decided to piece together an article that discusses all the major fallacies. Helping me out is The Nizkor Project.

Ad Hominem

• Used to reject an argument using the basis of an irrelevant fact
• Usually involves something along the lines of "therefore your claim is false"

Ad Hominem Tu Quoque

• Used to conclude an argument using the basis of inconsistencies
  
• Usually involves the words "I guess"

Appeal to Authority

• Used to add basis to an argument by claiming to be an expert
• Usually involves something along the lines of "so it has to be true"

Appeal to Belief

• Used to add basis to an argument by claiming that since many people in believe in something, it must be true

Appeal to Common Practice

• Used to add basis to an argument by claiming that since many people do something, then that certain something is correct or acceptable
• Very similar to "Appeal to Belief"

Appeal to Consequences of a Belief

• Used often simply as a means of trying to rationalize a way of thinking
• Often referred to as "wishful thinking"

Appeal to Emotion

• Used often to manipulate a person's emotions in order to get them to accept a claim
• Advertisers and marketing execs love this one

Appeal to Fear

• Used as a threat in order to convert people to your line of thinking
• This one is especially fallacious, because absolutely no line of evidence is presented

Appeal to Flattery

• Used, very often, for personal gain and it goes a little something like this: You are great, now give me (insert something here)
  
• This one is well known under myriad names. Namely "sucking one's dick"

Appeal to Novelty

• Used to claim that something is better because it is new

Appeal to Pity

• Used typically as a way to create sympathy and once there is a level of sympathy present, that will be used to achieve some kind of goal.
• Typically concludes with a sentence beginning with "After all"

Appeal to Popularity

• Used as a persuasive device to get people to believe that since something is popular, that certain something must be favorable
• Very similar to "Appeal to Common Practice"

Appeal to Ridicule

• Used as means of saying that since something is ridiculous, that certain something must not be true

Appeal to Spite

• Used to bring back memories of something unfavorable and using that very something as a means of proving something false
• Typically includes the words "Remember when (someone did something bad)?"
  

Appeal to Tradition

• Used to verify a claim by insisting that since something has "always been that way" that certain something must be true