Back to Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies
Duke University

Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies

We encounter fallacies almost everywhere we look. Politicians, salespeople, and children commonly use fallacies in order to get you to think whatever they want you to think. It’s important to learn to recognize fallacies so that you can avoid being fooled by them. It’s also important to learn about fallacies so that you avoid making fallacious arguments yourself. This course will show you how to identify and avoid many of the fallacies that lead people astray. In this course, you will learn about fallacies. Fallacies are arguments that suffer from one or more common but avoidable defects: equivocation, circularity, vagueness, etc. It’s important to learn about fallacies so that you can recognize them when you see them, and not be fooled by them. It’s also important to learn about fallacies so that you avoid making fallacious arguments yourself. Suggested Readings Students who want more detailed explanations or additional exercises or who want to explore these topics in more depth should consult Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic, Ninth Edition, Concise, Chapters 13-17, by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong and Robert Fogelin. Course Format Each week will be divided into multiple video segments that can be viewed separately or in groups. There will be short ungraded quizzes after each segment (to check comprehension) and a longer graded quiz at the end of the course.

Status: Interactive Learning
Status: Persuasive Communication
BeginnerCourse18 hours

Featured reviews

DH

4.0Reviewed Aug 27, 2016

Useful information for anyone who talks or writes.

SY

4.0Reviewed Mar 5, 2021

Interesting course although it might get too technical at times when it could have been by common sense/reasoning - and a great way to end the course with that video!

PR

5.0Reviewed Feb 13, 2026

This course helped me better understand logical fallacies and improved my ability to analyze arguments more critically and think more clearly before accepting conclusions.

CK

5.0Reviewed May 29, 2017

This course will be immensely helpful in structuring my thoughts in a logical and manner by addressing pertinent material and avoiding fallacy traps. Thank you so much!!!

AB

4.0Reviewed Apr 29, 2018

some of the videos were confusing fro english speakers

MS

5.0Reviewed Nov 19, 2020

This was one of the most engaging courses I have taken and both professors were a joy as I listened and learned!

SM

5.0Reviewed Jun 21, 2017

This entire series was informative, engaging, and fun, and the thinking skills taught are so valuable.

LB

5.0Reviewed Sep 24, 2017

This course has been incredible and more than anything because of the energy put by the instructors, I truly thank you for helping the world to become a better place to live. from Colombia, Luis.

MM

5.0Reviewed Aug 27, 2017

amazing course and amazing way of teaching it. it was a very important knowledge to have especially in this time of life where fallacies surround us everywhere

AM

4.0Reviewed Aug 21, 2016

The course is great, but i think it should include more problems or quizzes to apply what is learned in the lectures.

AG

5.0Reviewed Sep 11, 2019

Fun course. Great refresher on what makes up fallacies in communication.

NN

5.0Reviewed Apr 30, 2017

This was a nice course. Covers many fallacies in detail. Practice exercises are good. More fallacies could have been covered though. Overall, I did love the course.

All reviews

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