My favourite is the 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' witch trial scene , how many fallacies can you spot? Answer from Deleted User on reddit.com
My favourite is the 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' witch trial scene , how many fallacies can you spot? Answer from Deleted User on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/askphilosophy › help finding real life examples of logical fallacies?
r/askphilosophy on Reddit: Help finding real life examples of logical fallacies?
September 16, 2020 -

I am a high school teacher who is starting a unit on critical thinking. Part of this includes analyzing arguments for logical flaws. To try and make this subject slightly more interesting to a bunch of 11th graders (16 and 17 year olds, for those of you unfamiliar with US grades), I’m trying to find some examples used in advertising, by historical figures, and other figures of pop culture. I teach in Trumplandia, so I am trying to stay away from political examples (even though the examples from him are endless).

I thought finding such a list of examples would be easy! Unfortunately, it has been anything but. Does anyone know where I can find a sort of compendium of real world uses of logical fallacies to try and help my students make connections with the material? It’d be a huuuuuuge help!

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Grammarly
grammarly.com › blog › rhetorical-devices › logical-fallacies
15 Logical Fallacies to Know, With Definitions and Examples
April 10, 2023 - These are just a few examples of common logical fallacies (appeal to hypocrisy, appeal to ignorance, and sunk cost, respectively) we encounter in everyday speech.
Discussions

Help finding real life examples of logical fallacies?
My favourite is the 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' witch trial scene , how many fallacies can you spot? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/askphilosophy
18
15
September 16, 2020
Real life fallacy examples
Trump. Speeches, posts, interviews, he puts them out in droves. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/fallacy
5
2
March 7, 2024
ELI5: All the common "logical fallacies" that you see people referring to on Reddit.

There are loads. But some common ones:

  • Ad hominem To attack the person not the argument: "We should increase taxes", "Don't listen to him, he only showers once a week".

I've been getting a lot of replies about this one. An ad hominem only occurs if you ignore the argument and attack the person to undermine the argument. "It's hot outside, let's all go for ice-cream." "That's a bad idea. I'm diabetic, you moron" is not ad hominem. It's not a very nice response, but he still counters the argument with a reason. "Men are more likely to drink-drive, so all men should be banned from driving." "You're a massive idiot." still isn't really ad hominem; he is attacking the person, but it is more like an insult than a counter argument. "Board games are the root of all evil. If we ban them then crime will go down." "You are clearly uneducated and a fool, so this cannot be true." is an ad hominem fallacy. And now I've probably made everything more confusing.

  • Circular Reasoning Where the reason relies on the conclusion being true. "God exists because the Bible says so; Bible is true since it's the word of God".

  • Slippery slope The assumption that accepting one thing will lead to increasing undesirable other things. "If we let the immigrants in then they will take our jobs, leaving us homeless and then our children will be forced to work as prostitutes for food. Is that what you want? Child prostitutes?"

  • False Dilemma Forcing or suggesting there are only two possible options in a situation, where really there are many. "Steve insulted my mother, so I had to either punch him or be forever known as a wuss"

  • Tu quoque Literally you too (I think). Basically saying that if you don't do it, why should I? "My doctor told me to lose weight, but what does he know? He's fatter than me!"

  • Appeal to Authority Where a statement by an irrelevant authoritative figure or group is used. "Dr Steve says the vaccine causes cancer, so that vaccine must be banned." "Tiger Woods says this 10 bladed razor is way better than a 3 bladed one. The 7 extra blades therefore clearly make a difference."

  • Appeal to Popularity Where if a sizeable group of people belief in something, the belief must be correct. "300,000 Indians eat rice every day, therefore it must be healthy."

  • Appeal to Ignorance Where you assume something is true because it hasn't been proven false. Your standard "I don't know, therefore aliens".

  • Loaded Question Asking a question that presumes a certain fact. "What's your opinion on the immigrants that are ruining our society?" assumes immigrants are ruining our society, and by answering it directly you agree with this statement.

  • Straw Man Misrepresent the argument to make it easier to knock down. "We should give free fruit to school kids", "Yeah, let's just give everyone free food. That would just lead to obesity and a greater deficit".

  • Post Hoc (ergo propter hoc) Claiming that because something happens after something else, the first caused the second. "I wore my green socks today, and then found out my wife was leaving me. I didn't know she hated them that badly."

  • Gamblers' Fallacy Believing that a deviation in a series of (independent) chance events will soon be met by a deviation the opposite way. "I've given birth to six boys. My next kid is definitely a girl!"

  • Middle Ground Saying that a compromise between two extreme position is the correct one, solely because it is in the middle. "Schools are being forced to teach both creationism and the theory of evolution. The truth must be somewhere in between; they should teach the theory of creatioevolutionism."

  • Appeal to Emotion Relying on manipulating emotions rather than a solid argument. "Look at this poor little dog. Look at it! He looks so miserable and depressed. We should take him home and look after him." or "Meth. Not even once."

  • "Fallacy" Fallacy The fallacy you might use after reading this list. An argument contains a fallacy, therefore the conclusion is wrong. "The Meth. Not even once. campaign is just one massive appeal to emotion fallacy. Therefore there is no reason to stop doing meth."

I've probably forgotten a few.

Examples are meant to be exaggerated. In real life they are often more subtle, and the names aren't important as long as you recognise that there's something wrong.

Edit: Adding more fallacies that others have mentioned for a more complete list.

Edit: Added Middle Ground, fixed some grammar errors, formatting.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/explainlikeimfive
653
1137
November 8, 2010
What are some common logical fallacies you’ve seen people use, and how do you avoid them?
Strawmanning and whataboutisms seem to be a common theme across the board. Whataboutisms can be useful if you are trying to draw a parallels to hypocrisy between another person's claims but it is often used to divert attention onto a different topic entirely. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Askpolitics
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December 12, 2024
People also ask

Why do people use logical fallacies?
People use logical fallacies for different reasons. In some cases, speakers and writers intentionally use logical fallacies in an effort to make their opposition look worse, to simplify an issue, or make their own position look superior. In other cases, people use them unintentionally, either because they haven’t thought their statements through or don’t understand why their arguments are logically flawed.
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grammarly.com
grammarly.com › blog › rhetorical-devices › logical-fallacies
15 Logical Fallacies to Know, With Definitions and Examples
What is a logical fallacy?
A logical fallacy is an argument that can be disproven through reasoning.
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grammarly.com
grammarly.com › blog › rhetorical-devices › logical-fallacies
15 Logical Fallacies to Know, With Definitions and Examples
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Mark Manson
markmanson.net › home › 8 logical fallacies that mess us all up
8 Logical Fallacies That Mess Us All Up
February 8, 2023 - This is often called “circular reasoning” because if you follow the logic, it leads you in a circle. But similar to the fallacies above, begging the question can be subtle as well. For example, I once got in an argument with an anarchist about politics (never recommended, by the way).
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YourDictionary
yourdictionary.com › reading & writing › rhetorical devices › examples of fallacies in everyday life
Examples of Fallacies in Everyday Life | YourDictionary
January 5, 2023 - Without searching to find out if fairy tales have sprung to life in midtown Manhattan, she believes it to be true. Princess Kate wears Alexander McQueen. Are you trying to say you have better fashion sense than a royal princess? Appeal to ignorance fallacies occur when someone asserts a claim that must be accepted because no one else can prove otherwise.
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Medium
medium.com › philosophy-for-daily-life › 15-common-logical-fallacies-in-everyday-life-9f756614f0fe
15 Common Logical Fallacies in Everyday Life | by Asa | Philosophy for Daily Life | Medium
November 21, 2024 - 15 Common Logical Fallacies in Everyday Life 1# Ad Hominem Attacking the person. Example: “He can’t be trusted because he’s often late.” This logical fallacy ignores the argument and focuses …
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Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
iep.utm.edu › fallacy
Fallacies | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
In describing the fallacies below, the custom is followed of not distinguishing between a reasoner using a fallacy and the reasoning itself containing the fallacy. Real arguments are often embedded within a very long discussion. Richard Whately, one of the greatest of the 19th century researchers into informal logic, wisely said “A very long discussion is one of the most effective veils of Fallacy; …a Fallacy, which when stated barely…would not deceive a child, may deceive half the world if diluted in a quarto volume (an eight-page booklet).”
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Quora
quora.com › Can-you-give-examples-of-logical-fallacies-that-you-have-seen-in-real-life-arguments-or-debates
Can you give examples of logical fallacies that you have seen in real life arguments or debates? - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): Theist apologetics and debates are a target-rich environment for logical fallacies. Theists love to use Arguments from Ignorance or Personal Incredulity. “I/You don’t know, therefore gods …” “I don’t understand science, therefore gods …” This is sometimes combined with Black & ...
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Quora
quora.com › What-are-some-examples-of-logical-fallacies-in-everyday-life-What-is-the-purpose-of-using-logical-fallacies-How-do-they-influence-peoples-thinking
What are some examples of logical fallacies in everyday life? What is the purpose of using logical fallacies? How do they influence people's thinking? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): My favorite named fallacy is this one… https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost You see this all the time in business and even smaller individual actions. It results in incorrect decisions, which feel correct. The most common way I've seen this in business is when employees ar...
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The Writing Center
writingcenter.unc.edu › home › tips & tools › fallacies
Fallacies – The Writing Center
December 29, 2011 - Examples: “I know the exam is graded based on performance, but you should give me an A. My cat has been sick, my car broke down, and I’ve had a cold, so it was really hard for me to study!” The conclusion here is “You should give me ...
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BBC
bbc.com › future › article › 20240709-seven-ways-to-spot-a-bad-argument
Logical fallacies: Seven ways to spot a bad argument
July 10, 2024 - In 2016, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles found that many people who were against the policy were persuaded by the argument that it would lead to greater sexual promiscuity across society, and threaten their own way of life. This particular argument is fallacious because, rather than debating the policy change itself (whether same-sex marriage should be legalised), the policy was dismissed because of the fear of its predicted outcome (the breakdown of traditional society).
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UT Miners
utminers.utep.edu › omwilliamson › engl1311 › fallacies.htm
Master List of Logical Fallacies
Master List of Logical Fallacies · Fallacies are fake or deceptive arguments, "junk cognition," that is, arguments that seem irrefutable but prove nothing. Fallacies often seem superficially sound and they far too often retain immense persuasive power even after being clearly exposed as false.
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Scribbr
scribbr.com › home › logical fallacies | definition, types, list & examples
Logical Fallacies | Definition, Types, List & Examples
October 9, 2023 - A logical fallacy may arise in any form of communication, ranging from debates to writing, but it may also crop up in our own internal reasoning. Here are some examples of common fallacies that you may encounter in the media, in essays, and in everyday discussions.
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Research.com
research.com › home › logical fallacies: examples and pitfalls in research and media for 2026
Logical Fallacies: Examples and Pitfalls in Research and Media for 2026 | Research.com
July 18, 2022 - In example 2, marriage and being alone are represented as the only two choices one can have, but it ignores the fact that it is also possible to have a life partner without getting married, or being in a civil marriage as opposed to a church marriage, or having pets as companions. Digital marketing initiatives are increasingly susceptible to logical fallacies due to the rapid spread of information and the algorithm-driven nature of online platforms.
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AudienceScience
audiencescience.com › home › digital marketing › ads with logical fallacies:
Ads With Logical Fallacies: Types & Real-Life Examples
June 30, 2025 - The claims relied on both the false cause and authority appeal fallacies, citing dubious clinical studies conducted by someone closely tied to the company. The Federal Trade Commission fined Skechers $40 million for deceptive advertising. Similarly, Reebok had to pay $25 million for its EasyTone shoes, which falsely claimed to tone muscles during everyday walking, again demonstrating the dangers of the false cause fallacy.
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User's blog
rightexample.com › examples-of-fallacy
25 Fallacy Examples in Real Life - Right Examples
April 2, 2025 - But, your son starts arguing that all the members of his group smoke, so there is nothing wrong if he is also smoking. This is a fallacious argument because if other people are also smoking it does not mean that smoking does not cause any bad impact on the health of your son.
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Indeed
indeed.com › career-advice › career-development › logical-fallacies-examples
15 Common Logical Fallacies Examples | Indeed.com
While logical fallacies can undermine your argument, they don't necessarily render your claims untrue. A fallacy fallacy is when someone notices your argument contains a fallacy, which leads them to believe your entire claim is false. Even if someone has a weak argument, you can still find that their point is true.In the example below, the first person uses a fallacy to show that dogs are good companions.
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Philosophy A Level
philosophyalevel.com › home › posts › informal fallacies: 15 common examples of faulty reasoning
Informal Fallacies: 15 Common Examples of Faulty Reasoning - Philosophy A Level
May 31, 2023 - In this post, we will look at 15 examples of informal fallacies: ... Remember: Just because an argument involves a fallacy, this does not automatically mean the conclusion is false! If an argument involves a fallacy it means its conclusion does not necessarily follow from the premises – but the conclusion might be true anyway. ... ⭕ An argument that assumes the truth of the conclusion in its premises commits which logical fallacy?
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Purdue OWL
owl.purdue.edu › owl › general_writing › academic_writing › logic_in_argumentative_writing › fallacies.html
Logical Fallacies - Purdue OWL
In this example, the conclusion that Bush is a "good communicator" and the evidence used to prove it "he speaks effectively" are basically the same idea. Specific evidence such as using everyday language, breaking down complex problems, or illustrating his points with humorous stories would be needed to prove either half of the sentence.
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Gadsden Messenger
gadsdenmessenger.com › home › arranging the pieces… the logical fallacies in our day-to-day lives
Arranging the Pieces... The logical fallacies in our day-to-day lives - Gadsden Messenger
April 19, 2024 - It can be pretty simple to identify outrageous logical fallacies in political ads, news reports, memes and music lyrics, but sometimes we are too close to the logical fallacies in our own minds. For example, the “All or Nothing” fallacy often keeps my students from completing a big assignment because they have convinced themselves they have to complete it all in one sitting, when really they need to break it up over several days.
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Miami
ethics.miami.edu › _assets › pdf › um-ethics-society › logical_fallacies.pdf pdf
Logical Fallacies
Example: “I wear a red shirt every day that I take an exam. I have · received an A on every exam. I should probably wear a red shirt to my exam · tomorrow or I won’t get an A” (unless we are dealing with some sort of magic shirt, the test taker’s superstitious reasoning stands quite fallacious).