ACT (Enhanced)EnglishMedium
A student is reviewing a peer's argumentative essay and notices a sentence that contains a logical fallacy. The sentence reads: 'Everyone knows that climate change is a hoax, so there's no need to worry about it.' Which logical fallacy is present in this statement?
- ARed Herring
- BAd Hominem
- CStraw Man
- DBandwagon
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Bandwagon
The statement 'Everyone knows that climate change is a hoax' appeals to the popularity of an idea as proof of its truth, which is the definition of the bandwagon fallacy. Ad hominem attacks the person, straw man misrepresents an argument, and red herring distracts from the main issue.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A red herring introduces an irrelevant topic to divert attention from the original issue.
- B. An ad hominem attacks the person making the argument, not the argument itself.
- C. A straw man misrepresents someone's argument to make it easier to attack.
Bandwagon Fallacy
A logical fallacy that argues an idea must be true or good simply because it is popular or because many people believe it.
- Appeals to popularity, not evidence.
- Assumes widespread belief equates to validity.
- Common in advertising and propaganda.
Memory trick: Fallacies Fool Folks Frequently.