19 Common Fallacies, Explained. 

If you listen closely, you'll hear me claim that Richard Nixon walked on the moon. Perhaps it was a mistake, or perhaps it was a way of subtly reminding you that you shouldn't believe everything you hear on the internet. I also wish I had made a distinction between formal and informal fallacies. Maybe this deserves a much longer video.

0:50 - Ad Hominem 1:22 - Strawman 1:47 - Appeal to Authority 1:12 - False Dilemma 2:39 - Equivocation 3:12 - Circular Argument 3:54 - Hasty Generalization 4:03 - Comparative Fallacy 4:29 - Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc 4:58 - Appeal to Ignorance 5:10 - Appeal to Nature 5:34 - Appeal to Popularity 5:51 - Guilt by Association 6:06 - No True Scotsman 6:27 - Fallacy of Composition 6:33 - Fallacy of Division 6:38 - Appeal to Hypocrisy 6:59 - Burden of Proof Fallacy 7:18 - The Fallacy Fallacy

I like that you included the fallacy fallacy. It's something that debaters waiting to pounce on a logical fantasy often forget: that someone who uses a logical fallacy isn't automatically precluded from being right in their overall position.

Thanks for not having a useless intro sequence and instead just starting at the start of the video. Love it.

Once you read about all of the popular logical fallacies, you see them everywhere and you can't unsee them. All students ought to pass rigorous testing on this stuff to graduate from high school. Our "education" system doesn't seem interesting in teaching how to think; just "what" to think. Thanks for the video!

This is the best video I've listened to in a long time, you express a lot of veey relevant and useful communication concepts in a short space of time - and you do it clearly and with balance. Thank you.

I’m always looking to improve my reasoning and argumentation - even if it’s with myself as a little introspection bash. This video is excellent for breaking each item down succinctly. I also chuckled at the example for the circular argument, as the most common instance I’ve come across this issue is exactly that.

I enjoy how you get to the point and so value our time

It’s crazy how many of these are committed night in and night out on cable news shows but people continue to tune in

Thanks for this resource! Clear and concise. I appreciate your content and collected thoughts. I'd love a separate video too, if you feel so inspired, about how you address fallacies in day-to-day life... I recognize that's a lot of work, but at least I personally do find it highly interesting and engaging. Common patterns that will lead you astray~logical fallacies. How do you view these as related to cognitive biases? I personally find them very similar but are not necessarily linked as they exist in different contexts. But the interplay between theory and practice is engaging for me.

I’m new to your channel and just wanted to say thank you for creating such great content. I’m learning a lot and appreciate your insights, lessons, and reading suggestions.

I've been wanting a video that briefly and concisely sums up fallacies. Thanks for providing that. Nicely done.

Such a shame about "begging the question" but you are right that the phrase has been lost to linguistic ignorance.

This was great. Direct and to the point. My MIL made some ridiculous accusations to me about something I was doing (it was a while ago and too idiotic to remember the details) . When she finished, she looked at me expecting me to start defending myself but instead I said nothing. She worked up another full head of steam over that and asked "Why aren't you saying anything?" to which I responded "You're the one making the accusation so you're the one who has to back it up." She was stunned and wanted to know where I learned that like it was some new heresy. I told her it was a basic rule of life. Score! A logical argument inside a disagreement type argument. Ahahaha. 😅 edits for spelling

Love this quick summary. Thanks Prof.

I must listen to this again. I significantly scaled back participation on social media because some people decompose into name calling and othering (and sometimes rather quickly!) when you disagree with them.

Simple, straight to the point, great video!

Enjoyed learning about logical fallacies. Being a law student, I feel I can make good use of the learnings... I added in my task list to learn more about logical fallacies. More detailed videos on the topic shall be highly appreciated. Best Regards from 🇧🇩

This was really good. Just listing these fallacies and explaining them reminded me (and others, I imagine) that our arguments sometimes, but hopefully, not often) deserve a better treatment and greater care. Thanks very mucjh.

We appreciate your explanation. They're all thorough and concise.

Thank you for clarifying the definition of "begging the question". Another thing many of us could use help with is the question of "proving a negative".

this man is amazing, no wonder you are a professor!! if all teachers were like this! thanks for keeping your channel fallacy free! 😇😅😘

Thanks for getting straight to the point… defining the different fallacies.

Clearly explained and highly comprehensible. I have encountered them all and been guilty of some, but I was unaware that these strategies all have names. Thank you!

Thank you for making the video. I think it would be a great idea to make a longer video showing actual examples. Possibly multiple examples for each one with a wide range.

This was really great. Thanks for making it. I struggle with communicating effectively. I have ideas I think are extremely valuable to share and hear some statements that I feel warrant some challenging... but my communication skills are lacking and I've damaged my reputation in some respects by asserting some claims and being unable to back it up so it just makes me look like a nutjob umming and aahing through a rushed justification of why I think the way I do, discrediting myself in the process. Instead I should be fortifying my arguments objectively so that the argument exists external to my emotions which get in the way. When you're unable to box your ideas into an airtight delivery it feels like you're exposing your incompetency. I've heard that the written word is basically capturing your best ideas. You put the idea down and can then refine it and critique it, challenge its parts to find your weak spots. I get this for writing, but for verbal communications I've found it immensely more challenging and have opted too often to just stay in my lane and taking a "whatever"/"it is what it is" approach. Your worldview shapes your intuition about a whole variety of topics, but like you said with the appeal to popularity, it can be easy for widespread incorrect/unsubstantiated beliefs to persist. When you're challenging the weight of incredibly popular beliefs it's especially difficult - like trying to put out a housefire with a water pistol.

I’ve just discovered something about myself through your distinctive labelling of argumentation strategies. Thank you! I wishing you much success🎉

Thank you for providing such a nice list and explanation. It inspired me to start to read in this field :)

People out there truly believing that Richard Nixon was not the first person to walk on the moon🙄

Thanks for pointing these out! I've been using some of these in arguments and I'm now realizing how wrong I was. I'm hoping to be become more truthful and better at debating. ...said no one ever

Beautiful. Well done. One of the best videos ive seen in a while.

Grateful for everyone bringing this subject up.

A particularly common form of equivocation that could probably get its own fallacy is with the word "normal". It means both "common" and "acceptable", which is the basis of arguments of two forms. Both in the form of "lots of people do X, X is normal, so X is good", and "very few people do X, X is not normal, so X is bad."

That's exactly the example I use to explain circular reasoning to my students, and I also try and teach them to say raising the question when they mean bringing something up rather than begging the question! I know, it's a losing battle....

Great! Tks for the book tip! Downloaded! Cheers!

Very interesting, I've always been interested in delving into that

In my classes, my students had several topics that they could write essays on, including Logical fallacies. In six years no one ever picked them.

Everybody should be taught this in school. It would make it much harder to mislead people with trashy arguments.

I really liked this video. Short, sweet, and to the point. Subscribed! :)

Wonderfully concise and best for those who have studied these logic concepts before, as a continuing reminder.

My mother always said to me "You'd argue with a sign and take the wrong road anyway." Which only led to a further argument. I made an outline with notes as I listened (pausing to let it sink in). Having these fallacies labeled and defined is very helpful. Saved the vid and downloaded the book. This presentation was well presented and if the President walked on the moon, he did nothing wrong because he's the President. 😉

Is there something like an "assumption that an irrational arguer will be swayed by having their fallacies pointed out" fallacy?

Excellent descriptions. Good vid. Thanks for this

Just came across your post and definitely had to subscribe. Great video!

Politicians already know all of these and use them regularly

“We should aspire to be as non-violent as possible.” That’s a hasty generalization there friend.

This is fantastic stuff. So well and simply articulated.

There was an origin of life (early earth chemistry) debate last night between Dr. James Tour and Dave Farina. It was a total train wreck and rife with logical fallacy.

Another fallacy I've seen a lot is to assume correlation as causation.

Lovely thinking, very concisely expressed. Great job!

Wow.!! Informative & brilliant. Good delivery

Now, I can’t get the image of Nixon on the moon out of my head. Thanks.

I’m a pharmacist and appreciate knowing there’s a term “appeal to nature.” That has to be the most common fallacy people make about medicine. I try to remind people heroin and ricin are natural too 😂

Fascinating. Thank you for your teachings .

My 1979 freshman Intro to logic class has been more valuable than anything else I've ever studied. Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Hypothetical Syllogism, and all the rest of the formal logic proofs have been useful, but the linguistic fallacies discussed here were absolute gold. Love IS a fallacy.

False dilemma: Ban guns or face more gun violence.

The best way to argue is to not.

Thanks for the great link!

Hey there I just wanted to stop and say that I literally only watched 2 of your videos and immediately subscribed, I could see the quality of your words and content immediately✨

Western society has largely been built on the appeal to authority falacy for the last 100 years and has lead to predictable results.

I am a democrat therefore I am smart.....

Very informative, thank you! Subscribed! ❤

Man, you really spent time explaining the ones I've heard and brushed over ones that were new to me without giving examples in the end there.

Funny how so many fallacies are found in the argumentation and apologetics associated with religion.

thanks man esp for the link ... really quick easy to understand video!

Just scanned through the book and I'm going to enjoy reading it. I love how there's a version for dyslexic people. Going to make it so much easier to work through it.

The first item on the list of logical fallacies is already the 99% of comment sections in social media.

Excellent vid. Best explanation of each one. Superb.

Thank you! Really helpful.

I remember receiving a note from one of my professors on the usage of the phrase "begging the question", which he said essentially affirms the antecedent (if I remember correctly). One less person using it incorrectly now!

Very thoughtful video, thank you

I really enjoyed this. Thank you for making it understandable.

Knowing and understanding these is a life changer. A whole new lens to see life through. It’s like a bs detector super power. Not easy to spot all the time though. Thanks for the video.

That was Awesome I need to listen like 15 times and take notes Thank you

Great vid, always nice learning new things

Love at first sight. Subscribed!

This is actually educational. How pleasant 😊

Thanks for the link!

Very interesting thanks for the info, clear definitions

Splendid..! Thank you.

Well done, and I wish these distinctions were closer to the top of my mind when in debate. It would often be handy to make such observations in regards to the opponents claims. I really pulled up short at your, 'We should aspire to be as non-violent as possible" remark though. I think this is correct, but I can also see it as being a fun position to take on. And it's of little use when the Mongols come to town.

Thank you very much for these jewels of knowledge which will help us make more sense of the world we live in.

thanks for the great text book and amazing content🙏

The efficiency in this video is great. That said, I do think more videos like this should pound the table a bit more on “the fallacy fallacy”-that your opponent is engaged in fallacious reasoning doesn’t mean they’re wrong, just that their argument doesn’t work.

That was awesome! Thank you

Always love to watch more on logical fallacies. It it beyond me why this stuff is not a main course in school, in my humble opinion it should be teached asap since it is your first line of defence against basicly any stupid claim.

Good list, thanks. I've read and heard others. Though i believe to have good arguments they should take place in a controlled environment. Such as (1) a book or a scholarly paper. (2) A formal debate. (3) A court room. (4) A town meeting or other public forum with moderators. (5) A classroom of advanced students. (6) Interviews. Provoking arguments with friends, family members, strangers, and other unprepared participants is a recipe for trouble to say the least. And yes i took note of your Nixon flub.

I feel like I should rewatch this video a whole bunch of times so I can improve myself. Thank you for making this

Excellent description of falicies

I love the pace of this video. It's great information without a lot of blah, blah, blah.....

Nice little intro to people who are not familiar with fallacies. Just a little nitpick: these could be classified as argumentative fallacies, or at least informal logical fallacies. The difference to formal logical fallacies is, I think, useful to understand. Both types of fallacies involve flawed reasoning, but logical fallacies are a subset of argumentative fallacies. All logical fallacies are argumentative fallacies, but not all argumentative fallacies are logical fallacies. Logical fallacies focus strictly on the structural logic, whereas argumentative fallacies can encompass a broader range of errors, including those involving relevance, adequacy of evidence, and manipulative rhetorical techniques. Still, I'm all for spreading awareness of reason!

Lot of information... Thanks!

I love this. Thank you sir.

New to the channel. Really enjoying your videos!

For me. Just me. I like the presentation. Short and simple. Instead of a lot of useless words. Now I can look look for more details were I need to. Instead of listening to details that I already know. Thanks. I subscribed.

Great video. Thanks. Also, love your glasses. Been looking for a new pair of round frames. Mind if I ask where you got yours?

One of my favorite classes as a college freshman was Introduction to Logic. A philosophy class. It was course number 110. When I transferred to another college to major in engineering, the 2nd school assessed my transcript, giving me generally the expected credit for classes taken at the 1st college. But they assessed course 110 as 101, Introduction to Philosophy. The Logic class is legitimately a Social Science class while the Philosophy class is a Humanities class. Thus, the logic class resulted in me only taking 1 humanities class in my entire college career.

Thaks for this video, helped me a lot!

It has to be said that "In fact, we should aspire to be as peaceful as possible" is itself a fallacious statement because it doesn't observe the fact-value distinction.

Thanks for the textbook