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created: 2025-10-27T09:17:57.483Z
---# List of fallacies

**URL:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies)

List of fallacies Affirming the consequent If A → B; B is true, so A must be true (not necessarily). Denying the antecedent If A → B; A is false, so B must be false (invalid). Affirming a disjunct A or B; A is true, so B must be false (not always). Inverse error Assuming that if not-B, then not-A, from the premise if A then B. Fallacy of the converse Mistaking "if A then B" for "if B then A". Fallacy of the transposed conditional Confusing "if A then B" with "if not B then not A". Non sequitur A conclusion that does not logically follow from the premises. Base rate fallacy Ignoring statistical base rates in favor of specific information. Conjunction fallacy Assuming specific conditions are more probable than general ones. Argument from fallacy Assuming a conclusion is false because the argument contains a fallacy. Masked-man fallacy Confusing substitution of identicals in contexts of knowledge or belief. Fallacy of the undistributed middle Assuming that two things sharing a property must be the same. Illicit major Drawing a conclusion from a universal major premise that's not distributed to the conclusion. Illicit minor Drawing a conclusion from a particular minor premise that's not distributed to the conclusion. Existential fallacy Assuming something exists because its existence is referenced. Illicit conversion Reversing terms of a categorical statement improperly. Undistributed middle Assuming that if A shares a property with B, they must be the same. Ad hominem Attacking the person rather than the argument. Appeal to force (argumentum ad baculum) Using threats or intimidation to win support. Appeal to emotion Using emotional manipulation instead of logic. Appeal to ridicule Mocking an argument instead of engaging with it. Appeal to nature Claiming something is good or right because it's "natural". Appeal to tradition Arguing something is true or better because it has been done that way. Appeal to novelty Assuming something is better because it's new. Argumentum ad populum (bandwagon) Arguing something is true because many people believe it. Tu quoque Avoiding criticism by pointing out the hypocrisy of the accuser. Genetic fallacy Judging something based on its source rather than merit. Strawman Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack. Red herring Introducing irrelevant information to divert attention. Ignoratio elenchi Presenting a valid argument that does not address the issue at hand. Reductio ad Hitlerum Discrediting something by associating it with Hitler or Nazism. Motte-and-bailey fallacy Retreating to a defensible position when challenged, then reverting to the controversial one. Argument from silence Drawing conclusions based on the absence of evidence. Appeal to authority Using a non-expert opinion as evidence. Argumentum ad verecundiam Citing authority outside their area of expertise. Argumentum ad crumenam Believing a claim because the speaker is wealthy. Argumentum ad lazarum Believing a claim because the speaker is poor. Appeal to wealth Assuming wealth implies correctness. Appeal to poverty Assuming poverty implies correctness. Hasty generalization Drawing a conclusion from insufficient evidence. Anecdotal fallacy Using personal stories instead of data or logic. Cherry picking Selecting only favorable evidence while ignoring the rest. No true Scotsman Dismissing counterexamples by redefining terms. Overgeneralization Making a broad claim based on limited examples. Spotlight fallacy Assuming media coverage reflects broader truth. Composition Assuming what’s true for the parts is true for the whole. Division Assuming what’s true of the whole is also true of the parts. Post hoc ergo propter hoc Assuming cause from sequence. Cum hoc ergo propter hoc Assuming correlation implies causation. False cause Attributing causation where none exists. Regression fallacy Misattributing the cause of natural fluctuation. Slippery slope Claiming a minor action will lead to major consequences. Wrong direction Reversing the cause and effect relationship. Magical thinking Assuming unrelated actions influence outcomes. Fallacy of the single cause Reducing a complex issue to one cause. Equivocation Using a word with multiple meanings in misleading ways. Amphiboly Ambiguity due to grammar or sentence structure. Accent fallacy Misleading through emphasis. Reification Treating abstract concepts as tangible entities. Definist fallacy Defining a term to support a particular conclusion. Suppressed correlative Reframing definitions so no true opposition remains. False dichotomy Presenting two options as the only possibilities. Begging the question Assuming the conclusion in the premises. Loaded question Asking a question containing an unjustified assumption. Complex question Combining multiple questions as one. Fallacy of many questions Asking too many questions to obscure truth. Middle ground fallacy Assuming compromise is always correct. False equivalence Equating two unrelated arguments as the same. Fallacy of the heap (sorites paradox) Arguing small steps never make a difference. Gambler’s fallacy Believing past random events affect future probabilities. Hot-hand fallacy Believing recent success increases likelihood of future success. Texas sharpshooter fallacy Cherry-picking patterns post hoc. Fallacy of false precision Using unwarrantedly specific data. Broken window fallacy Mistaking destruction for economic gain. Historian's fallacy Evaluating past actions with present knowledge. Psychologist's fallacy Assuming others have the same mental perspective. Wishful thinking Believing something is true because it’s desirable. Proving too much Using logic that proves more than is plausible. Moralistic fallacy Assuming the world is as it should be. Naturalistic fallacy Arguing from what is to what ought to be. Argument to moderation Assuming the middle between extremes is always correct. Fallacy of the golden mean Assuming the centrist view is always best. Relative privation Dismissing an issue by pointing to worse problems. Special pleading Applying exceptions to rules without justification. Moving the goalposts Changing criteria when shown to be wrong.


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