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4
5Tropes about characters misusing logic or otherwise failing at it.
6
7See also [[UsefulNotes/LogicalFallacies the Useful Notes page]] on logical fallacies, which covers fallacies that don't have their own pages.
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9!!Subtropes include:
10
11[[index]]
12* AbileneParadox: A group-think fallacy in which the individuals in a group don't want to hurt any of the others' feelings and end up doing something ''nobody'' wants because they all think they're going along with everyone else.
13* AdHominem: Attacking the arguer or the argument's presentation instead of the actual argument.
14* AppealToAuthority: Assuming something is true because an authority or expert said it to be so (in cases where other experts may disagree, or if neither you nor the authority / expert are unable or willing to elaborate further) OR calling someone an expert (and therefore correct) when they are not an actual expert.
15* AppealToConsequences: (better known as "argument from adverse consequences") Assuming something is correct/incorrect because of the positive/negative effects that will arise if it is implemented.
16* AppealToFamilialWisdom: A subtrope of AppealToAuthority where advice is lent extra weight by claiming it was passed down from one's parents.
17* AppealToFlattery: Claiming that a certain conclusion reflects well on anyone who agrees with it, or poorly on anyone who does not.
18* AppealToForce: Threatening anyone who disagrees with you, and therefore claiming what you say is true: "changing your mind by altering your face." A species of the Appeal to Consequences.
19* AppealToInherentNature: Claiming something otherwise unacceptable is acceptable because it is within the nature of the doer to do it.
20* AppealToNature: Claiming anything that appears naturally is good, and anything that appears unnaturally is bad.
21* AppealToNovelty: Claiming something is superior to something else because the first is newer.
22* AppealToObscurity: Building an argument out of obscure acts that might be irrelevant and incorrect, and claiming it is valid because the other person does not know of the obscure information.
23* AppealToPopularity: Claiming something is true because many or most people believe it.
24* AppealToTradition: Claiming something is superior to something else because the first is older.
25* AppealToWorseProblems: Discarding an argument on the basis that it is unimportant because of a related thing that is perceived to be more important. A type of RedHerring.
26* ArgumentOfContradictions: An argument that consists of nothing more than a shouting match -- each side loudly repeating their side in turn.
27* AssociationFallacy: Claiming "X is a Y. X is also a Z. Therefore, Y is a Z." Incorporates Guilt / Honor by Association, where it is asserted that relation to a good or bad thing means the associated thing is also good or bad.
28* BecauseISaidSo: A variant of AppealToAuthority, this fallacy is more formally known as Proof by Assertion. This fallacy posits that something is true or false, right or wrong, simply because the speaker says so, shutting down anyone who asks them why this is the case.
29* ChewbaccaDefense: Using non-sequitur arguments to ''”prove”'' a point, relying on distracting and confusing the opposition.
30* CircularReasoning: Any argument in which the conclusion is used as a premise. Such an argument can be simplified down to "it's true because it's true."
31* ConfirmationBias (also known as cherry-picking): Presenting or accepting only data that supports your predetermined position and ignoring data that damages your position.
32* ConverseError: (part of “Correlation does not imply causation.”) Concluding that a certain set of results can only come from one set of circumstances. "If A, then B. B, therefore A."
33* EnemyMine: When it is assumed that two beliefs that share a dislike for a third one must be compatible, because the two are on the same "side".
34* EverythingExceptMostThings: A generalization with so many exceptions that what remains is less than impressive, if useful at all.
35* FalseCause: Assuming that because one event came after another, that the first event must have caused the second.
36* FalseDichotomy (Either/Or Reasoning): Offering a choice between two extremes, usually one desired and one not, and ignoring the possibility of [[TakeAThirdOption other options]].
37* FourTermsFallacy (False Syllogism): [[Creator/StephenColbert "God is love. Love is blind.]] Music/StevieWonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God."
38* GamblersFallacy: Thinking that previous random events will have an effect on future random events, when in reality the odds are the same regardless of the amount of times such a random event has taken place. "The odds of winning are 1:20. I've played 19 times, so I'm ''due'' for some good luck!"
39* GoldenMeanFallacy: Thinking that the "middle ground" between two extreme points is necessarily the best option, simply because they are extremes. "Hitler says to kill all the Jews, Rabbi Bernstein says to kill none of the Jews, therefore the correct answer is to kill half the Jews."
40* HardWorkFallacy ("If I can do it, so can you."): The assumption that individual effort is the ''only'' thing needed to succeed, regardless of any other factors.
41* HitlerAteSugar: A species of the Association Fallacy. Claiming something is bad because an evil person (like Hitler) liked it, or inversely claiming something is good because they were against it.
42* IncriminatingIndifference: "You are not acting as emotional as we think you should be. Therefore, you are guilty/untrustworthy/hiding something."
43* InsaneTrollLogic: A conclusion drawn on irrelevant or nonsensical postulates.
44* LetsSeeYouDoBetter: Claiming that one must be able to perform something in order to be able to criticise it, regardless of their arguments. A type of {{ad hominem}}.
45* MadeOutToBeAJerkass: Acting in self-defense makes the actual victim considered to be the jerk, and the offender is sympathized with and defended.
46* ManyQuestionsFallacy: A question is asked that assumes the answer to one or more additional questions, and a demand is made that it be answered without qualifiers. "Yes or no: have you stopped beating your wife?"
47* MovingTheGoalposts: Continually changing requirements for a goal so that it is never achieved.
48* NoTrueScotsman: Redefining a category to not include something that the speaker doesn't want it to include, even though it does in fact include that thing, or changing something's definition after it's already been defined.
49* OriginalPositionFallacy: Advocating something because one assumes that they will themselves benefit from it or don't think they'll suffer the consequences of it. People advocating systems they think they're going to benefit from [[MoralMyopia usually have only their own interest in mind]], and will typically object to extending the same benefit to others.
50* OvenLogic: Assuming that any one condition can still produce a valid result if a second condition is altered 'proportionately', such as by baking something for half the time at double the temperature.
51* PerfectSolutionFallacy: Rejecting an idea because it doesn't solve ''all'' addressed issues. "If we can't fix it perfectly, we shouldn't try at all."
52* PoesLaw: Satire mistaken for fact, ''used'' by someone who states it as fact. Or, alternatively, sincere expression of a (seemingly ludicrous) belief mistaken for satire.
53* RedHerring: In logic, a fallacy of distraction where an irrelevant side-argument is introduced in an attempt to draw the opponent away from their main one. For example, Alice tells Bob it is immoral to cheat on his wife Claire because it is betraying her trust, and Bob replies, "what is morality, though?" intending to redirect a discussion of his affair into a discussion of abstract philosophy.
54* SharpshooterFallacy: Claiming that a conclusion is inevitable after the specific results have already been witnessed; using the same data to generate both a hypothesis and a conclusion. Named for a hypothetical scenario where someone shoots a bullet into a wall, then paints a target around it.
55* SlipperySlopeFallacy: Claiming that an action will inevitably lead to another, very unacceptable action. "If X, then eventually Y."
56* SunkCostFallacy ("Throwing good money after bad"): Assuming that because one has already invested time or money into something, it is worth continuing to do that thing even though it produces no gains.
57* SurvivorshipBias: Overemphasizing a small number of successes of a given example, while ignoring a large number of failures.
58* TautologicalTemplar: Self-identifying as ''definitively'' good or right, then using it as a supposition for argument. "I'm a good guy so everything I do is good because I say so."
59* WithUsOrAgainstUs: A form of false dilemma. Assuming that not openly supporting one side means you oppose them (or vice-versa).

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