by Flinkliv · Updated December. 14, 2024
A logical fallacy is errors and flaws in reasoning that weaken or invalidate a logical argument. You might already hear rhetoric such as:
Logical fallacies are often used to mislead people in advertising, politics, official reports, social media, news, etc. The capability to discern a reasonable argument from an inaccurate or a falsy one is essential and sometimes critical to making the right decision.
The false dilemma fallacy, also known as a false dichotomy or either-or fallacy, applies wrongly presenting a claim as a choice between a limited set of options.
AI sparks debate because of mismatched expectations, often fueled by a false dichotomy. Some inflate its short-term power, dreaming of instant revolutions, while others dismiss its long-term potential, ignoring its transformative possibilities. The truth lies in balance—AI isn't magic, but it’s no fad either.
The planning fallacy is a cognitive bias that refers to the tendency for individuals to underestimate the time, resources, and difficulties required to complete a task. This often leads to overly optimistic and unrealistic schedules, which can result in missed deadlines, unfinished projects, and disappointment. To avoid planning fallacy, it's essential to be aware of this bias and to approach each task with a realistic and cautious attitude. This can be achieved by considering past experiences, researching and gathering data, and involving others in the planning process. By avoiding the pitfalls of the planning fallacy, individuals can make more accurate and effective plans, leading to increased productivity and success.
The emotional appeal fallacy is trying to manipulate an emotional response instead of a valid or compelling argument. Here is an example of an emotional appeal fallacy using scarcity.
The appeal to emotion is a logical fallacy that uses emotions to strengthen to gain support or win an argument instead of using logic and solid argumentation. For example, using buzzwords to jack up stock prices to gain/manipulate followers and investors.
The strawman fallacy is when a person A makes a claim, and another person B distorts it by creating a different version of the claim; then attacks person A based on the distorted version.