2. A statement or an argument based on a false or invalid inference.

3. Incorrectness of reasoning or belief; erroneousness.

A Fallacy is a kind of argument which tends to persuade us, even though it is a bad argument, either because of the form, or because of the falsity of one of the premises. Ordinary people in a casual conversation will state a fallacy to prove their point. Many times those fallacies are informal. When we talk of committing a fallacy, it is usually the person offering the flawed argument who is at fault, as well as the person who accepts the argument as being well reasoned! In a case where the person offering the argument is doing so to prevent harm, and realizes that the argument is fallacious, then they are only committing a fallacy if they believe what they have argued is reasonable. Some fallacies will depend on sleight of hand (deception), while others rely on emotional appeals.

lacies found are those of pity. It is easy for people to play on the heartstrings of others to prove their point. For example: “Mrs. Cripe, I am very sorry I didn’t turn in my essay in time but my mom has been so sick these past 2 days and I had to take care of her.” This is a pity fallacy. Why is it a fallacy? Because the fact that the student themselves was not sick, the fact that the student probably had several weeks to prepare for an essay and waited until the last minute and last but not least, how many times do students actually take the time to care for an ailing parent.

4. Fallacy of accident: "It is a general truth that no one should lie. Therefore, no one should lie if a murderer at the point of a knife asks you for information you know would lead to a further murder."

From the movie Twelve Angry Men, “Look, everyone else on this jury agrees the kid is guilty. You are the only holdout. Since we are 11-1, doesn’t that prove that you are wrong?”

1. Black and White fallacies: "If he is not an atheist then he is a decent person." "He is either a conservative or a liberal." "He must not be peace-loving, since he participated in picketing the American embassy."

Get the picture? Fallacies are used every day in almost every situation and in almost every conversation. The question to what is an informal fallacy has been answered but the question of why a person needs to know about informal fallacies has not. Well, here is the all important answer to that question. Everyone in there lifetime has been duped, persuaded and even down right lied to by these fallacies at least once in their lives. A person needs to be able to identify major forms of inductive reasoning and apply methods for evaluating them. A person needs to understand basic concepts like validity and soundness. They also need to be able to identify deductive arguments and apply methods for evaluating their validity and invalidity. P

Some topics in this essay:
Informal Fallacies, Ex Aristocracy, Professor Angeles, Convocation April, Twelve Angry, Philosophy Christian, Mall Mishawaka, Pat Robertson, Black White, Fallacy Force, informal fallacy, informal fallacies, beginning beginning beginner, deeper thinkers, able identify, beginning beginner, methods evaluating, apply methods, committing fallacy, apply methods evaluating, grace college, true bible,