How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Appeal Fallacies

Disciplines > Argument > Fallacies > Appeal Fallacies

A common form of fallacy is, rather than to present an objective argument that stands on its own legs, makes some form of appeal, pleading with the listeners to accept a point without further questioning.

Appeal to Authority: Referencing an 'expert'.
Appeal to Belief: see Appeal to Common Belief.
Appeal to Common Belief: If others believe it to be true, it must be true.
Appeal to Common Practice: If others do it, it must be ok to do it too.
Appeal to Consequences of a Belief: see Wishful thinking
Appeal to Fear: Gaining compliance through threat.
Appeal to Flattery: Make them feel good.
Appeal to Force: see Appeal to Fear
Appeal to Emotion: If it feels good, it must be true.
Appeal to Ignorance: see Argument from ignorance
Appeal to Novelty: Newer is better.
Appeal to Pity: Going for the sympathy vote.
Appeal to Ridicule: Mocking the other person's claim.
Appeal to Spite: Play on their negative feelings for others.
Appeal to Sympathy: see Appeal to Pity
Appeal to Tradition: It has always been done this way, so this way is right.

Many of these appeals may also appear using their Latin names that either start with 'Argumentum Ad' or just with 'Ad', as below:

Ad Absurdum: see Appeal to Ridicule
Ad Baculum: see Appeal to Fear
Ad Hominem: see Attack the person
Ad Hominem Tu Quoque: See Personal Inconsistency
Ad Ignorantium: see Argument from Ignorance
Ad Misericordiam: see Appeal to Pity
Ad Nauseum: see Repetition
Ad Novitam: see Appeal to Novelty
Ad Numeram: see Appeal to Common Practice
Ad Populum: see Appeal to Common Belief or Bandwagon
Ad Verecundiam: see Appeal to Authority

Appeal Fallacies

See also