Logical Errors

Personal Attack


Logical Errors

Logical Dodges

Personal Attack

The ploy of personal attack, a very common logical dodge, involves trying to discredit the person who advances a certain thesis, instead of proving that the thesis is not a good one. Name calling, ridicule, and bringing in irrelevant aspects of the opposing person's life all provide ammunition for personal attack. For example: "That guy is a socialist, and everybody knows it. Take what he says about wage and price controls with a grain of salt."

Parent Topics:

Map of Logical Errors

I want to build a list of logical errors

I have a list of logical errors, but I'm always looking for more. I will post them as I get them ready.

Aristotle's Universe

Even Aristotle made errors in logic.


Adapted from Albrecht, Karl. Brain Power. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1980.