Fallacies 1 Begging the Question No support evidence
Fallacies 1
Begging the Question • No support/ evidence • *Everybody knows that MJC students are the brightest in the East. • This begs the question: Where is the evidence? / where is the proof? • Ans: I know because it is true. 2
Red Herring • Irrelevant / misleading evidence. • Distracts the audience from the real argument. • *Ali could not have stolen the candy because the shopkeeper was overtly racist. • The shopkeeper’s racism is not an issue Ali’s possession of stolen candies is. 3
Non Sequiter • Conclusion does not follow the evidence. • *Women should not be HODs because they are not as strong as men. • *Mr Chiam should not be MP cos’ he only has 4 As. • What has strength to do with anything? • What has grades to do with being a MP? 4
Straw Man • Attributing an argument to an opponent that he has never made. Then proceeds to demolish the pseudo-argument. • *Female Councillor, “My gender is not a problem in this election. In fact my gender will add value to the school. ” • Who ever said that female councillors are going to be problems? 5
Stacked Evidence • One sided argument. • * All TV promotes family values. Eg. Under One Roof, Growing Up, Sesame Street… • Did not consider: Son of the Beach, Baywatch, Melrose Place… 6
Either-Or • Oversimplified into Black or White. • *Women must either be housewives or career women. • *You are either my friend or my enemy! • *Vote PAP or face economic ruin! • No room for middle-ground; too extreme ignore grey areas in real life. • Force people to choose. 7
Post Hoc • Claim that one thing to another. • *Smoking is what a real man does. • *Using “Eternity” by Calvin Klein will drive hordes of men wild. • *Ignore Jason. It always rains with him around. • Wrong claim. 8
Hasty Generalization • Jump to conclusions • Stereotyping • *Mr Pang’s wife gave him a big scolding last night. Therefore he is a henpecked husband. • Absolutely rubbish. Mr Pang is just being understanding & open about issues. 9
Ad Hominen • <add – hall – minen> • Prejudiced / biased against the person • Poisoning the well. • *Clinton is not fit to be a President because he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky. • Sexual Affairs vs Political Ability 10
Guilt by Association • A person is judged because of the misdeeds of friends/ association. • *Hillary cannot be president because Bill had an affair with Lewinsky. • Bill’s problems have nothing to do with her. 11
Using Authority I am Boss • Relies on authority to prove a point. • * We must take our temperatures because Miss Lai said so. • The main reason is SARS. 12
Bandwagon Appeal • Everyone is doing something so you should also. • *I must get a girlfriend ‘cos Samson has one. • Do not follow the crowd. 13
Slippery Slope • • Domino effect. Scare tactic Sliding to disaster. *If we have one boy with long hair today, the school will go to dogs tomorrow. • Exaggeration! 14
False Needs • Heighten the false sense of need. • *If you want smart kids, you must buy a set of encyclopaedias. • * If you want white shiny teeth, you must use Oral B. 15
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