Fallacies!!!! Fun to play with and criticize Terrible to actually use
Dec 24, 2015
Fallacies!!!!Fun to play with and criticize
Terrible to actually use
What is a fallacy?
A false or mistaken idea; an often plausible argument using false or
invalid inferences
Qualities of Fallacies
Sometimes very persuasive Hard to identify
Weaken an argument
Why is knowing about fallacies important?
Knowing about them will make them easier to pinpoint in your work as well as in others’ works
– You automatically have the upper hand in a discussion if you can provide strong evidence as well as be free from fallacies
4 Categories
Relations to others
Attacks on an individual
Poor and False Logical Development
Extras…
Relations to Groups
Appeal to Authority/Testimonial:– Using a culture icon or someone with “authority”
on the subject as “evidence” for your argumentHP Computers
Appeal to Popularity/Bandwagon:– “Everyone’s doing it” - fear of rejection if you
don’t join in… “Four out of five dentists surveyed preferred Crest toothpaste
over the other leading brands.”– Advertisers who urge consumers to buy “the brand that's number
one” are using bandwagon appeal. – Numbers may not exactly be true or skewed to appeal to the
consumer. “Many people…” - general claim!
Attacks on the Individual
Ad Hominem/Personal Attack: – Making a personal attack on the
individual instead of arguing for themselves.
See this a lot in political ad campaigns
Mac vs. PC Windows Vista
Guilt by Association: – Assuming someone or something is not
worth buying/trusting because he/she/it is associated with a certain group of people
McCarthyism was a specific version of Guilt by Association in which an individual, organization, or idea was associated in some way with communism (civil rights supporter, etc.)
Post hoc ergo propter hoc/False Cause:– Assuming. Since Event B followed Event A,
then A must have caused B. Statistics show that at beaches this past summer, ice
cream sales have gone up. So has the number of people drowning in the ocean. Ice cream must be the culprit.
FRIENDS example
Poor and False Logical Development
Limited Options/Either-Or:– Assuming there are only two sides to an
argument or offering only two choices “Either she comes to my party or she’s not my real
friend.”
Non sequitur/It does not follow:– A statement that does not follow logically or is
not clearly related to anything previously said.“Tens of thousands of Americans have seen lights
in the night sky which they could not identify. The existence of life on other planets is fast becoming certainty!"
False Analogy/Comparison: – Using analogies often make poor evidence
because the two things are not alike in all aspects - the assumption is that two things are more alike than they really are.
Rolling socks makes you feel younger?!?!
Begging the Question/Circular Reasoning: When the given argument depends on what it is trying to
support, and as a result, the argument in question is being used to prove itself.
– “Why did he do that? Did he have a reason?” “Of course he had a reason, or he wouldn’t have done it.”
Loaded Question: Asking a question that assumes something that has
not been proven yet - forces an answer based on false or controversial premises.– “Do you know how fast you were going?”
Answer yes: admit to speedingAnswer no: admit not paying attention/speeding
Extras…
Who Can Write the Worst Ad?
In groups, decide on a product. This could be something we all know about, something made up, or even a person (think of political ads or “changed” celebrities)
Must tell us: What the product is. Why we should all have/believe this product.
Create a visual ad. (Magazine spread? Billboard?)
Create a small speech for this product. This speech must be LOADED with
fallacies. At least 3 You will present your products to the class. Be creative and have fun!