The following are logical fallacies that I believe all humanity should know of. Remember that the main reason for arguing is not to win but to allow truth to be spread.

1. Ad Hominem- Attacking the individual instead of the argument.
   1. Example:  You are so stupid your argument couldn’t possibly be true.
   2. Example:  I figured that you couldn’t possibly get it right, so I ignored your comment.
2. Begging the Question- Assuming the thing to be true that you are trying to prove.  It is circular.
   1. Example:  I am a good worker because Frank says so.  How can we trust Frank?  Simple:  I will vouch for him.
3. Appeal to Pity- Urging the hearer to accept the argument based upon an appeal to emotions, sympathy, etc. 
   1. Example:  You owe me big time because I really stuck my neck out for you.
   2. Example:  Oh come on, I’ve been sick.  That’s why I missed the deadline.
4. Appeal to the Popular- Urging the hearer to accept a position because a majority of people hold to it.
   1. Example:  The majority of people like soda.  Therefore, soda is good.
   2. Example:  Everyone else is doing it.  Why shouldn’t you?
5. Appeal to Tradition- Trying to get someone to accept something because it has been done or believed for a long time.
   1. Example:  This is the way we’ve always done it. Therefore, it is the right way.
   2. Example:  The Catholic church’s tradition demonstrates that this doctrine is true.
6. Appeal to Force- Telling the hearer that something bad will happen to him if he does not accept the argument. 
   1. Example:  If you don’t want to get beaten up, you will agree with what I say.
   2. Example:  Convert or die.
7. Cause and Effect- Assuming that the effect is related to a cause because the events occur together.
   1. Example:  When the rooster crows, the sun rises.  Therefore, the rooster causes the sun to rise.
   2. Example:  When the fuel light goes on in my car, I soon run out of gas.  Therefore, the fuel light causes my car to run out of gas.
8. Fallacy of Division- Assuming that what is true of the whole is true for the parts.
   1. Example:  That car is blue.  Therefore, its engine is blue.
   2. Example:  Your family is weird.  That means that you are weird too.
9. Fallacy of Equivocation- Using the same term in an argument in different places but the word has different meanings.
   1. Example:  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  Therefore, a bird is worth more than President Bush.
   2. Example:  Evolution states that one species can change into another.  We see that cars have evolved into different styles.  Therefore, since evolution is a fact in cars, it is true in species.
10. False Dilemma- Giving two choices when in actuality there could be more choices possible.
    1. Example:  Does your mother know you’re gay?
    2. Example:  Do you still beat your wife?
11. Genetic Fallacy- Attempting to endorse or disqualify a claim because of the origin or irrelevant history of the claim.
    1. Example:  Arabs own oil, I will not buy gasoline.  
    2. Example:  Frank just got out of jail last year; since it was his idea to start the hardware store, I can’t buy there.
12. Guilt by Association- Rejecting an argument or claim because the person proposing it likes someone whom is disliked by another.
    1. Example:  Hitler liked dogs.  Therefore dogs are bad.
    2. Example:  Your friend is a thief.  Therefore, I cannot trust you.
13. Non Sequitur- Comments or information that do not logically follow from a premise or the conclusion.
    1. Example:  We know why it rained today: because I washed my car.
    2. Example:  I don’t care what you say.  We don’t need any more bookshelves.  As long as the carpet is clean, we are fine.
14. Poisoning the Well- Presenting negative information about a person before he/she speaks so as to discredit the person’s argument.
    1. Example:  Frank is pompous, arrogant, and thinks he knows everything.  So, let’s hear what Frank has to say about the subject.
    2. Example:  Don’t listen to him because he is a loser.
15. Red Herring- Introducing a topic not related to the subject at hand.
    1. Example: I know your car isn’t working right.  But, if you had gone to the store one day earlier, you’d not be having problems.
    2. Example:  I know I forgot to deposit the check into the bank yesterday but nothing I do pleases you.
16. Special Pleading (double standard) - Applying a standard to another that is different from a standard applied to oneself.
    1. Example:  You can’t possibly understand facial shaving because you are a woman.
    2. Example:  Those rules don’t apply to me since I am older than you.
17. Straw Man Argument- Producing an argument about a weaker representation of the truth and attacking it.
    1. Example:  The government doesn’t take care of the poor because it doesn’t have a tax specifically to support the poor.
    2. Example:  We know that evolution is false because we did not evolve from monkeys.
18. Category Mistake -  Attributing a property to something that could not possibly have that property. Attributing to one category that which can only be properly attributed to another.
    
    1. Example:  My dog sleeps faster than your dog therefore your dog is tired.
    2. Example:  Saying cats are not cute is like saying cars would exist if matter didn’t.