Module 2: Section D

Law and Disorder: Introduction

What Is A Logical Fallacy?

"Victory to the winners!" the sports announcer bellows over the celebrating crowd. How can you argue with logic like that?

The statement seems reasonable at first, but if you think about it for a moment, it's pretty ridiculous, even comical. Of course, the winners get the victory because that is what victory means. This is called Circular Reasoning, and it is a kind of logical fallacy. If you really listen to what people say, you will hear mistakes in logic all around you. Some of them are ridiculous in an amusing way, and some of them are a little bit scarier because they sound so reasonable.

Being able to hear and identify logical fallacies will make you a stronger debater and a master at the art of persuasion because you will be able to avoid these pitfalls and potholes of argumentation. That's what this section is all about!

Listen to what people around you are saying, especially in the heat of the moment. Can you detect any unintentional funny business? Can you spot a logical fallacy when you hear one?