How to spot Logical Fallacies

Logical fallacies are arguments often used by people who don’t really have anything to back up their position. They can be used to manipulate, coerce, avoid responsibility, or to convince others without having any real evidence.

Now some fallacies may seem persuasive, at least at first, but are often flawed in their logic, don’t stand up to scrutiny but just make the argument deceptive, misleading or unresolvable.

They can be powerful tools for those looking to troll, bully, or manipulate others because they exploit cognitive biases, emotional responses and can lead to frustration, confusion or even compliance. If anyone has ever gotten into an argument with a troll on social media, you probably already know false fallacies are usually all they have.

This video outlines 15 different kinds such as the strawman, ad hominem and the sharpshooter fallacies, and the importance of critical thinking to help avoid them.