Favorite Fallacies—of the Very Informal Kind

Argument of provability

"Everything I believe is provable. Anything that cannot be proved I do not believe."

Argument of superior logic

"My logic is more logical than yours, hence, I am right and you are wrong."

Argument from suppressed alternatives:
A: So you think you can prove there exists nought but the material.
B: No, I simply believe your particular "God" [out of infinitely many that are possible], and it's supernatural abode doesn't exist
A: There is only one god.

Argument from Faith: “Even though I can’t justify (by logic or fact) what I believe, my faith makes my belief at least as good as anyone else’s.”

—Sometimes followed up with Rank Outsider’s “Argument from Lack of Personal Experience” (i.e., I don’t have the right faith, so I can’t know).

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I hasten to add that not everyone who speaks of faith (mis-)uses the term in this way.

Arguement against faith

Those who have faith are foolish, however, I do not place my faith in anything, hence, I'm not foolish.

Originally posted by Agerg
[b]Argumentum ad Typo You spelt [insert word often written in haste] wrong. If you can't spell then how in blazes are you supposed to follow a difficult argument!?[/b]

You used spelt wrong. Spelt is a hexaploid species of wheat.

Argument from Exhaustless Objections:

"But then there's this problem.
And then what about this issue?
And there's this problem over here.
And then there's this other problem over there.
And you haven't addressed this issue.
But what about that problem ?
...
...
... " (ad infinitum)

Argument from Apathy :

"Well, it really doesn't matter to me anyway. Actually I don't care."

selective reasoning.

good things happen because we know god is good.
we dont question why god lets bad things happen, god is unknowable.

Argument from Disagreement
"Well I don't agree, so well just have to leave it here." (implying that we are on equal ground, regardless of how much has been presented by either side).

Argument from Infinite Noncommitment :

" I am not really commited to an alternative explanation, but
maybe it is this ...
maybe it is that ...
maybe it is the other ...
or maybe it is this other ...
or maybe it is that other ...
...
...
... " (ad infinitum as long as there could be some alternative explanation)

This argument is best used when postured as openmindedness.

Argument from Preoccupied Sex Drive:

"Whether it is true or not is not important. I am way too occupied with my hefty and active sexuality."

This approach is mostly used by young single males intent on impressing discussion forums with the virility of their sex lives.

Originally posted by jaywill
[b] Argument from Preoccupied Sex Drive:

"Whether it is true or not is not important. I am way too occupied with my hefty and active sexuality."

This approach is mostly used by young single males intent on impressing discussion forums with the virility of their sex lives.[/b]

ROFL!!! All the entries are wonderful, but this one really made me laugh. Thanks for that. 🙂

Originally posted by vistesd
ROFL!!! All the entries are wonderful, but this one really made me laugh. Thanks for that. 🙂

It takes a certain je ne sais quoi to see the humour in that.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
It takes a certain je ne sais quoi to see the humour in that.

And we are content to leave it that way...