Logic Examples


Determine the type of fallacy:
  1. We should see "Alexander", it was the most watched movie in the summer.
  2. Napoleon became a great emperor because he was so short.
  3.  "No one has ever proved that the Loch Ness Monster exists, so it must not exist."
  4. "Pets are nice and cuddly therefore animals are generally nice and cuddly."
  5. "It is claimed by some people that severe illness is caused by depression and anger. After all, people who are severely ill are very often depressed and angry. Thus, it follows that the cause of severe illness actually is the depression and anger. So, a good and cheerful attitude is key to staying healthy."
  6. "Men receive more higher education than women. Therefore Dr. Jane Smart has less higher education than Mr. Bill Buffoon. "
  7. "If you're against the war, you're not supporting our sons and daughters in uniform."
  8. "Gosh, officer, I know I made an illegal left turn, but we cops have to stick together."
  9. You may argue that God doesn't exist, but you are just following a fad.
  10. I like vanilla ice cream because it's my favorite kind.
  11. Marijuana smoking is not all that harmful. I would feel safer in a car with a driver under the influence of marijuana than one under the influence of liquor any day.
  12. "Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I can't understand why he wants to leave us defenseless like that."
  13. "No one has ever proved that silicon breast implants are unsafe.
  14. "The new PowerTangerine computer gives you the power you need. If you buy one, people will envy your power. They will look up to you and wish they were just like you. You will know the true joy of power. TangerinePower."
  15. "Dear ABBY:  If GOING BALD doesn't have any signs of rash, or sores on her head, she should make a mixture of castor oil and sheep dung, and plaster it on her head every night.  (Tell her to wear a shower cap so she won't mess up her pillow.)  I started losing my hair after the birth of my child.  My grandmother gave me this remedy and it worked.  Index Journal (02.01.80).
  16. "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?"
  17. 'Let's be reasonable about this.'
  18. .Most of the troubles of this world are caused by people thinking it out, instead of responding naturally with warmth and humanity. We should ignore these facts about Third World dictatorships, and reach out with love in our hearts and.. (And yuk.)
  19. Creationism should be taught in the schools because the majority of people support the idea.
  20. Senator Joseph McCarthy (from Walton pages 3-4):  "I do not have much information on this except the general statement of the agency that there is nothing in the files to disprove his Communist connections."
  21. You say I shouldn't drink, but you haven't been sober for more than a year.
  22. "Even you should understand my next point."
  23. "A living cell is organic material, so the chemicals making up the cell must also be organic material."
  24. Sam is riding her bike in her home town in Maine, minding her own business. A station wagon comes up behind her and the driver starts beeping his horn and then tries to force her off the road. As he goes by, the driver yells "get on the sidewalk where you belong!" Sam sees that the car has Ohio plates and concludes that all Ohio drivers are jerks.
  25. Bill has borrowed Jane's expensive pen, but found he didn't return it. He tell's himself that it is okay to keep it, since she would have taken his.
  26. Bill and Jill are married. Both Bill and Jill have put in a full day at the office. Their dog, Rover, has knocked over all the plants in one room and has strewn the dirt all over the carpet. When they return, Bill tells Jill that it is her job to clean up after the dog. When she protests, he says that he has put in a full day at the office and is too tired to clean up after the dog.
  27. "If such action were illegal, then it would be prohibited by the law."
  28. "evolution means a dog giving birth to a cat."
  29. "Taxation is theft".
  30. Microsoft doesn't find bugs, or problems, or security vulnerabilities: they just discover an issue with a piece of software.
  31. "Because we allow terminally ill patients to use heroin, we should allow everyone to use heroin."
  32. "This Is The Way We've Always Done It."
  33. "Technology brings happiness".
  34. "If I make an exception for you then I'll have to make an exception for everyone."
  35. "Everybody does it, therefore it can't be wrong".
  36. When sales of hot chocolate go up, street crime drops.
  37. "Albert Einstein was extremely impressed with this theory."
  38. Running is good for your health. If you want to be healthy, you should run.
  39. "We have now had five dates together. It is clear we are well-suited. Let's get married."
  40. I cannot understand why the environmentalists feel it is harmful to cut down the redwood forests. This work provides a good living to loggers and their families.
  41. "We must either support animal testing, or give up in the war against cancer."
  42. It either our liberty or our security."
  43. "I don't care if other people say you're opinionated/boring/overbearing."
  44. "The stock market fell because of a technical adjustment."
  45. "I did not murder my mother and father with an axe! Please don't find me guilty; I'm suffering enough through being an orphan."
  46. "The terrorists kill people, therefore it's ok for us to torture."
  47. "Experts agree that ... (fill in your favorite doubtful statement)."
  48. "Before women got the vote, there were no nuclear weapons."
  49. "The solar system reminds me of an atom, with planets orbiting the sun like electrons orbiting the nucleus. We know that electrons can jump from orbit to orbit; so we must look to ancient records for sightings of planets jumping from orbit to orbit also."
  50. "How can you argue for vegetarianism when you wear leather shoes?"

    51.