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What Makes a Fallacy

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State

A fallacy is a pattern of reasoning that tends to persuade despite failing to support its conclusion. Recurrent, seductive, and wrong — all three.

Show

One bad argument is a mistake. A pattern of persuasive mistakes earns a name.

Watch for

"Fallacy" is a verdict about support, not about the conclusion's truth. Fallacious arguments can have true conclusions — supported by nothing.