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A '''Logical fallacy''' is any argument that suffers from a crippling logical flaw.

A '''logical fallacy''' is an error in [[formal logic|logical]] reasoning. While the common usage of the word ''fallacy'' would include ''any'' error in reasoning, in logic a fallacy is defined at a particularly [[deceit|deceptive]] argument which seems correct, but upon further examination is found to be incorrect.<ref name="copi">Copi, Irving M. and Carl Cohen. "Introduction to Logic, 12e". Pearson Education: 2005</ref>

[[Logic]] is a demanding discipline. Conclusions either follow from certain previously stated premises, or they do not. This is not, however, to say that a conclusion is always false if the argument supporting it is invalid. For example:

Logical fallacies fall into two general categories: formal fallacies and informal fallacies. Formal fallacies apply to [[deductive argument]]s, and are those which relate to an improper application of a rule, whereas informal fallacies apply to [[inductive argument]]s, and are those which involve the improper use of the content of an argument.

Logical fallacy ''is not'' the same as lying. A ''lie'' in logic is a premise that one offers while knowing that it is false.  

 

 

Logical fallacy ''is not'' the same as lying. A ''lie'' in logic is a premise that one offers while knowing that it is false. False premises can still be part of valid arguments, but conclusions having false premises to support them will be unreliable. A logical fallacy, then, is a flawed argumental structure, one that would lead to an unreliable conclusion even when its premises are true.

The following is a catalog of logical fallacies, with each one given a separate heading, to make them easier to cite in other articles.

The following is a catalog of logical fallacies, with each one given a separate heading, to make them easier to cite in other articles.