Fallacies of Relevance Vocabulary

attacking the person rather than their argument

“You can't trust his climate research—he drives an SUV. That's ad hominem.”

Origin: Latin `to the person`

deflecting criticism by pointing to the accuser's similar behavior

“You criticize my spending, but you bought a boat! That's tu quoque.”

Origin: Latin `you also`

citing an authority outside their expertise as proof

“This actor endorses the diet, so it must work—a false appeal to authority.”

Origin: Latin `argumentum ad verecundiam` (argument to respect)

using feelings rather than logic to persuade

“Think of the children!—often an appeal to emotion rather than evidence.”

Origin: Latin `argumentum ad passiones`

arguing something is right because it's always been done

“We've always done it this way—an appeal to tradition, not reason.”

Origin: Latin `argumentum ad antiquitatem`

claiming something is good because it's natural

“It's natural, so it must be healthy—ignoring that arsenic is also natural.”

Origin: Latin `argumentum ad naturam`

judging truth by desirable or undesirable outcomes

“Evolution can't be true—imagine how people would behave! An appeal to consequences.”

Origin: Latin `argumentum ad consequentiam`

introducing an irrelevant topic to divert attention

“Asked about the budget deficit, he discussed crime rates—a red herring.”

Origin: From using smoked fish to throw hunting dogs off a trail

judging something based on its origin rather than current meaning

“Democracy came from slave-owning Athens, so it's flawed—a genetic fallacy.”

Origin: From Greek `genesis` (origin), judging by source rather than merit