Straw Man Fallacy in The Crucible By Hunter

Straw Man Fallacy in The Crucible By: Hunter Pursley

What Is Straw Man?

Universal Example • Person A: We should liberalize laws on beer. • Person B: No, any society with unrestricted access to intoxicants loses its work ethic and goes only got immediate gratification.

Example from The Crucible P. 180 Act 1 Parris: “I am not used to this poverty…why am I persecuted here? ” Mr. Putnam: “Mr. Parris, you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house —” Putnam, ignoring the direct question of Parris’, attempts to refute Parris by emphasizing something unrelated to Parris’ current situation. He brings up a legitimate point that degrades Paris’ argument without being pertinent to the dilemma.

Another Example from The Crucible P. 233 Act 4 Hale: “You must pardon them. They will not budge. ” Danforth: “You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just. Danforth is the one stating the straw man fallacy. Danforth argues that people have hanged already despite this not being directly related to Hale’s original plea. He twists the argument from the live people to those he’s already condemned to the gallows.

Resources • "The Purpose and Utility of Pastafarianism: Philosophy Forums. " Philosophy Forums. N. p. , 17 Jan. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. • Soutowood, Peter. "The Great Writing Vacuum. " Peter Soutowood. N. p. , 22 Mar. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. • "Noli Insipientium Iniurias Pati: Hagel Ignores #minordetail Sequestration = Obama 's Idea. " Noli Insipientium Iniurias Pati: Hagel Ignores #minordetail Sequestration = Obama 's Idea. N. p. , 29 May 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.