Reading: Advanced Textual Analysis: C1 Lesson 2: Identifying Logical Fallacies and Weaknesses in Arguments

Reading: Advanced Textual Analysis

C1 Lesson 2: Identifying Logical Fallacies

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify and analyze four common logical fallacies in written and spoken arguments.

Before You Read 🧠

Key Vocabulary

A logical fallacy is a mistake in reasoning that makes an argument weak or invalid. Let's preview four common types.

Ad Hominem

Attacking the person instead of their argument.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.

False Dilemma

Presenting only two choices when more options exist.

Hasty Generalization

Making a broad conclusion from very little evidence.

Four Common Logical Fallacies

Learning to spot these fallacies allows you to see the weaknesses in an argument that others might miss.

1. Ad Hominem (Personal Attack)

The Flaw: Instead of attacking an idea, the person attacks the opponent themselves (their character, background, etc.).

"Ms. Davy has proposed a new public park. But she only moved to our town six years ago, so what does she really know about what's best for our community?"

Analysis: This ignores the park plan and instead attacks Ms. Davy for being a newcomer. Where a person is from has no logical connection to the quality of their ideas.

2. The Straw Man Fallacy

The Flaw: Misrepresenting or exaggerating an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Politician A: "We should modestly increase the budget for environmental protection."

Politician B: "So, my opponent wants to bankrupt our economy and destroy industry just to protect a few trees? This radical agenda is unacceptable!"

Analysis: Politician B exaggerates a "modest increase" into a "radical agenda," which is a weaker "straw man" argument that is easier to defeat.

3. The False Dilemma (Either/Or Fallacy)

The Flaw: Presenting a complex issue as if there are only two possible choices, when in fact there are other alternatives.

"For our town's riverfront, we have two choices: either we build a massive hotel complex, or we accept economic stagnation."

Analysis: This ignores many other possibilities, such as developing small guesthouses, creating a public park, or a mix of strategies. It tries to force you into an extreme choice.

4. The Hasty Generalization

The Flaw: Drawing a broad conclusion based on very little or anecdotal evidence.

"I tried one durian from a stall at the market and I didn't like it. Clearly, all durian in Kampot is overrated."

Analysis: The experience with one single durian is not enough evidence to make a valid conclusion about all durian in an entire province.

Practice What You Learned 🎯

Quiz: Spot the Fallacy

1. "My teacher says I need to study more, but why should I listen to her? She doesn't even know how to use TikTok properly."

This argument uses which fallacy?

• A. Straw Man
• B. Ad Hominem
• C. False Dilemma

→ Answer: B. Ad Hominem. The argument attacks the teacher's unrelated tech skills instead of addressing the issue of studying.

2. "We can either approve the new factory project immediately, or we can watch as every young person in our town moves away, leaving us with a ghost town."

This argument uses which fallacy?

• A. Hasty Generalization
• B. Ad Hominem
• C. False Dilemma

→ Answer: C. False Dilemma. It presents only two extreme outcomes and ignores other possibilities.

Key Vocabulary Reference

• Logical Fallacy (Noun Phrase) | ភាពខុសឆ្គងតក្កវិជ្ជា
  An error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or unsound.
• Ad Hominem (Noun Phrase) | ការវាយប្រហារបុគ្គល
  A fallacy that attacks the person making an argument instead of the argument itself.
• Straw Man (Noun Phrase) | ការបំភាន់
  A fallacy of misrepresenting an opponent's position to make it easier to attack.
• False Dilemma (Noun Phrase) | ការជ្រើសរើសខុស
  A fallacy that presents an issue as having only two possible options, when more exist.
• Hasty Generalization (Noun Phrase) | ការសង្ខេបខ្លីពេក
  A fallacy of drawing a broad conclusion from insufficient or weak evidence.

Your Reading Mission ⭐

Be a Fallacy Detective!

Watch a political debate or read the comments section on a controversial news article online. These places are often full of logical fallacies.

1. Find one clear example of a logical fallacy from the lesson.
2. Write down the quote.
3. Identify the fallacy by name (e.g., Ad Hominem) and briefly explain why it is a fallacy.