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Ever meet someone who’s sharp, educated, and articulate—yet their argument makes no sense? We all have. The truth is, intelligence doesn’t always protect us from bad logic. In this post (and the video below), I unpack 12 logical fallacies that fool even smart people—from circular reasoning and false dilemmas to the classic “you too” defense. Learn how to spot these reasoning traps and stay grounded in truth, no matter how persuasive the nonsense sounds.
For a fun example of relative privation, read It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach. It's a long-standing favorite of my kids.
Ali Almossawi Illustrated Logic Books
- Bad Arguments: Learning the Lost Art of Making Sense
- Loaded Language: Learn to Hear What's Left Unsaid
Canon Logic Series
- Introductory Logic: The Fundamentals of Thinking Well
- Intermediate Logic: Mastering Propositional Arguments
Quick Summary (for the skimmers):
- Ad Hominem
- Straw Man
- False Dilemma
- Circular Reasoning (subset Begging the Question)
- Appeal to Consequence
- Popularity Appeal
- False Cause
- Equivocation
- Relative Privation
- Sunk Cost
- You Too
- Complex Question
Alison Moore Smith is a 60-year-old entrepreneur. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 39 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons.
She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
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