Welcome to a Web site devoted to logical fallacies! This page is divided into two frames. The left frame contains the alphabetical menu, as well as, the search engine. The right frame contains the main menu with the following sections:
What are the Fallacy Files? – This section explains what the fallacy files are and how they came to be.
What is a Fallacy? – This section explains what a fallacy is, but it also goes into the history of fallacies and why they should be studied.
The Taxonomy of Logical Fallacies – This section goes further into how fallacies are typed and categorized.
Quote…Unquote – Here you will find some quotes about logical fallacies, as well as, the importance of logical thinking.
How to Use the Fallacy Files – This, of course, is almost a section you have to stop at, because it teaches you the best way to use the fallacy files. As I mentioned earlier, the tools for searching the fallacy files are in the left frame of the Web page and they consist of an alphabetical listing and search engine. This section will walk you through those, as well as, the taxonomy.
Seeing as I couldn’t think of any logical fallacies off hand, I started my search with the letter P from the alphabetical menu. From there, I chose at random, Petitio Principii. I learned that it breaks down into the phrase “begging the question,” which is a comment I am most familiar with from debates.
For this entry, there were aliases listed for the phrase, as well as, an etymology and then the form was discussed. An example of it was also given. Then I read the exposition on the subject, along with the exposure, which was where I got to see the phrase in action. You’ll also find sub-fallacies listed after that, which will tie you into other related fallacies on the same topic.
I am off to explore some more of the entries here and I hope you’ll do the same!
~ Amanda