A list of logical fallacies

A logical fallacy is an error in argument. When a logical fallacy exists, it means that the conclusions do not follow from the premises. Whether the premises and conclusions themselves are true is besides the point. The presence of a logical fallacy in an argument means that this particular argument does not prove the conclusions.

Below is a list of selected logical fallacies. For more, see the appropriate article in Wikipedia.

Appeal to consequences

This fallacy consists of the form "the conclusions have some perceived negative consequence, therefore they must be false" or "the conclusions have some perceived positive consequence, therefore they must be true". For example,

1. Without a belief in the Oral Torah, Orthodox Judaism would disappear
2. therefore the Oral Torah must be true.

Begging the question

In this fallacy, the proposition to be proved is first assumed, whether implicitly or explicitly. For example, begging the question in proviing the veracity of the Oral Torah would be

1. Suppose the Oral Torah is true
2. then, X is true
3. but if X is true, Oral Torah must be true.

This fallacy is related to the cart before the horse conceptual fallacy.

Equivocation

This fallacy occurs when an argument uses a term in its different meanings, implying that the term means the same thing in each use. For example

1. To be understood, all texts require the knowledge of the language in which they are written.
2. In ancient times, this knowledge of language was passed down from generation to generation as an oral tradition.
3. Therefore, the Jewish Bible has associated oral tradition, which is the Oral Torah.

In (2), the term "oral tradition" is generic, and means any information that is passed from one generation to the next in spoken form. In Rabbinical usage, "oral tradition" is also a synonym for the Oral Torah. In (3), the term is used not in its generic meaning, but in its Rabbinical meaning.

Non sequitur

Non sequitur means "it does not follow" in Latin. Simply put, non sequitur means insisting that a conclusion follows from a premise, when it reality it does not. For example,

1. There was another revelation besides the Written Torah
2. therefore the Oral Torah must be this other revelation.