Even a Flawed Argument Can Sound Convincing

Even a Flawed Argument Can Sound Convincing

Not every persuasive argument is sound, and not every fallacy is obvious at first glance. Explore logical traps and sharpen your critical thinking.

A confident tone can make a claim sound compelling, but it doesn’t prove that the conclusion makes sense. Likewise, a fallacious argument can seem convincing when it reinforces what we already believe. That’s why it’s worth examining not only what persuaded us, but also the reasoning that led to the conclusion. Examples and fun exercises can help you spot the difference and respond more thoughtfully.

Interested in this topic? Read more: Self-discipline in argumentation: How to recognize and avoid logical fallacies on the path to personal growth Want to find out where you stand personally? Take a short test at the end of the page and gain a better understanding.

How does this apply to you? Choose the answers that describe you best:

If someone refers to an authority (e.g., an expert) to support their claim, what does that remind you of?

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What do you think about the argument that says "everyone is doing it, so it must be right"?

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If someone claims that "because something never happened, it must be impossible," what is your first impression?

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If someone argues that "it's not logical because it's not common," what feelings does that evoke in you?

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If someone decides that something is true because it was a long time ago in the past, what significance does that have for you?

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When someone claims, "that's not true because it has never happened in my experience," what do you think about that?

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If someone says, "if it were true, everyone would know it," what do you think about it?

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How do you feel when someone says, "that's true because it's always been done that way"?

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If someone says: "it can't be true because it's too fantastic to be real," what do you think about that?

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When someone uses emotional claims as evidence, what does it evoke in you?

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Argumentative fallacies and logical errors – How to recognize and avoid mistakes in reasoning.

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