For the Animals
An Argument Guide
PT

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Fallacies

20 logical errors that explain much of the catalogue. Click a code to see how the fallacy shows up in the argument.

Appeal to nature

"It's natural, so it's good"

Hume's law (from is to ought)

Deriving a norm from a fact

Appeal to tradition

"It's always been this way"

Appeal to popularity and normality

"Everybody does it"

Appeal to authority

"So-and-so said it or did it"

Arbitrary criterion (speciesism)

An irrelevant trait chosen as the moral boundary

Persuasive definition

Defining the term to win the argument

Begging the question

The conclusion is hidden in the premise

Continuum fallacy

No exact line means no difference

Hasty generalization from an exception

An exception used as the rule

False dichotomy

Either this or that, with no third way

Nirvana fallacy

If it isn't perfect, it doesn't count

Tu quoque

"You do it too"

Ad hominem and poisoning the well

Attacking the person

Guilt by association

Linking the idea to something hated

Priority fallacy

"There are more important things"

Anecdotal evidence

One case against the data

Cherry picking

Selecting only the favorable data

False middle ground

The truth is always in the middle

Changing the question (red herring)

Swapping "is it wrong?" for another question