Avoid logical fallacies from "summary" of The Critical Thinking Toolkit by Dr. Marlene Caroselli
Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that can undermine the validity of an argument. These fallacies can be tempting to use because they may seem to make a point more persuasive or help win an argument. However, relying on logical fallacies can actually weaken an argument and hinder critical thinking. One common fallacy is the ad hominem attack, where someone attacks the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself. This tactic is often used when someone does not have a strong counterargument and resorts to attacking the character or motives of the person presenting the argument. This is a fallacy because it does not address the actual validity of the argument. Another fallacy is the appeal to authority, where someone uses the opinion of an authority figure to support their argument. While citing experts can be persuasive, it is important to remember that even experts can be wrong. Relying solely on the opinion of an authority without critically evaluating the argument can lead to faulty reasoning. T...
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