In this article 15 mistakes to avoid in your next argument:

Let’s begin:

Argument by assertion (aka “proof by assertion”, “Ipse dixit”)

“A bare assertion is not necessarily the naked truth.” – George Dennison

The argument by assertion is not an argument at all. It’s a fallacy.

Argument vs assertion

An argument is one or more premises in support of a conclusion

An assertion is a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief

The argument by assertion is simply an assertion that something is true or false without evidence.

However, anyone can assert anything, but that doesn’t make it true:

“The Bible is the word of God”

“Muhammad is the final prophet”

“Jesus is returning soon”

“The world is run by the illuminati”

“The earth is flat”

“Everyone knows that”

“That’s just the way it is”

“You’re an idiot”

There is a huge difference between an argument and an assertion. That might sound painfully obvious, but if you listen carefully to most people talk, they’re not making rational arguments backed up by evidence, they’re simply making baseless assertions. But an assertion is not an argument. Nor is it evidence or proof or a reason to believe anything.

It doesn’t matter:

How confidently or loudly something is asserted

How long it’s been asserted for, or how often

How many people assert it, or how many people agree with them

All claims need reasons and evidence to support them.

“What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence” – Christopher Hitchens

Self-Sealing Argument (aka “vacuous argument”)

“Heads I win, tails you lose”

“Wherever you go, there you are”

“Everything happens for a reason”

A self-sealing argument is an argument that is unfalsifiable, and setup in such a way that it is impossible to contradict or refute, so that no counterarguments or evidence could possibly be used against it.

Self-Sealing argument example #1

Person A: “All actions are selfish”

Person B: “What about that person who sacrificed their life for others?”

Person A: “They did it for selfish motives. They wanted to die a hero”

Self-Sealing argument example #2

Person A: “Everyone has wounds from their childhood”

Person B: “I don’t think I do. I had a great childhood”

Person A: “Everyone does. You’re just in denial about it”

Self-Sealing argument example #3

Person A: “Everything that happens is Gods will”

Person B: “Even AIDS, cancer, murder, rape, terrorism and war?”

Person A: “Yes”

Conspiracy theorists are often guilty of self-sealing arguments and thinking, in that any counterarguments or denials are seen as evidence in support of the theory, and any ridiculing of far-fetched claims an attempt to cover up and suppress evidence and dissenting voices (e.g. the US government denying that 9/11 was an inside job is part of the cover up “that’s what they would say”)

Circular reasoning (aka “begging the question”, “circular logic”) Circular reasoning is when an argument assumes what it is trying to prove (I.e. the conclusion is contained within the premises) Circular reasoning example #1

“The Bible is true, because it says so, in the Bible”

Circular reasoning example #2

“Islam is a religion of peace, because it says it is”

Circular reasoning example #3

“I know he’s not lying, because he said he’s not lying”