What type of fallacy is exemplified by appealing to someone's emotions rather than logic?

The fallacy exemplified by appealing to someone's emotions rather than logic is known as the ad misericordiam fallacy. This term refers specifically to arguments that exploit the emotions of sympathy or pity in order to persuade an audience, rather than relying on logical reasoning or evidence.

For instance, when a speaker presents a case by sharing an emotionally charged story that tugs at the audience's heartstrings, rather than presenting valid arguments backed by data or facts, they are using the ad misericordiam fallacy. This can be effective in swaying opinions, but it doesn't contribute to a sound logical conclusion.

In contrast, other options such as ad populum and bandwagon focus on appealing to the popularity of a belief or idea rather than emotions, while a red herring introduces irrelevant information to distract from the actual issue at hand. Each of these other fallacies operates in different ways, underscoring the unique nature of the ad misericordiam fallacy in its targeted emotional appeal.