Fallacy Funk (The Logical Fallacy Song)

In a logical fallacy, soundness is an illusion,
if your premises don't support your conclusion.

If rational inquiry is your mission,
and not just to win debates,
when you attack someone's position
cite facts, not character traits,
lest you commit an AD HOMINEM fallacy,
'Cause the only thing that's relevant is the
rational quality of the interlocutor's argument.
If I make a case for vegetarianism
and you're swayed by the evidence shown,
but subject my actions to criticism
'Cause I ordered a filet mignon,
that would be an APPEAL TO HYPOCRISY,
another logical fallacy:
It's irrelevant whether your opposition
acts inconsistently with his position.

'Cause in a logical fallacy, soundness is an illusion,
if your premises don't support your conclusion.
When your argument proceeds from A to B,
consider the consequences carefully.

Medicine can prevent infection
through immunization by injection.
It's eradicated smallpox,
but if you opt for herbal detox
because it was derived, say, from a tree,
that's an APPEAL TO NATURE fallacy:
Assuming the best cures are found
in sources that grow from the ground.
'Zog the Great' is omniscient.
It says so in his book, which is sufficient,
as it was written by Zog, an infallible source
which we know 'cause it says so in the text, of course.
CIRCULAR REASONING or BEGGING THE QUESTION,
another fallacy for your digestion:
The conclusion isn't proven, it's
assumed within the postulates.

In a logical fallacy, soundness is an illusion,
if your premises don't support your conclusion.
When your argument proceeds from A to B,
consider the consequences carefully.

If your grandfather lived to a ripe old age
and smoked a pack a day at every stage,
you might conclude that smoking is innocuous,
but that assumption would be vacuous.
It's an ANECDOTAL FALLACY,
a sample size too small to be
statistically applicable—
it's not based on enough people.
The divorce rate in Maine is steadily decreasing
while margarine consumption is likewise ceasing.
If you thus draw the following conclusion:
Butter substitutes cause marriage dissolution,
That's a FALLACY OF CORRELATION,
mistaking concurrence for causation.
But if you're unconvinced by what I've said,
stick to jam or skip the bread.

In a logical fallacy, soundness is an illusion,
if your premises don't support your conclusion.
When your argument is seeking solid ground,
consider and now prepare for lightning round:

A STRAWMAN will misrepresent
so it's easier to attack an argument.
A FALSE DICHOTOMY is if I insist
there are only two options when others exist.
EQUIVOCATION uses the same word in two senses,
leading to false consequences.
APPEAL TO TRADITION says because it's stood
the test of time, it must be good.
FALSE ANALOGY concludes: if two things connect
then they must be the same in another respect.
BANDWAGON calls an idea legitimate
because lots of people believe in it.
SLIPPERY SLOPE: one step will commence
an unrelated chain of events.
RED HERRING puts a new topic into view
in order to distract from the real issue.

In a logical fallacy, soundness is an illusion,
If your premises don't support your conclusion.
When your argument proceeds from A to B,
consider the consequences carefully.

If rational inquiry is your mission,
and not just to contend,
when you attack someone's position,
take care to comprehend,
because step one in your game plan
should be to present a STEELMAN:
Articulating your opponent's argument
even better than he can.
Articulating your opponent's argument
Even better than he can.
If this lesson you heed, then you'll succeed...
and I know that you can.