Fallacies of Relevance Examples Flashcards
“You should not trust any argument that is posted on the biblical science institute website.”
Genetic
An argument should be evaluated on its merit, not its source.
“You don’t need God to account for laws of logic. I don’t even believe in God, and I use logic all the time.”
Irrelevant thesis
He doesn’t explain his claim for not needing God to account for the laws of logic. He makes a separate unrelated point.
“You shouldn’t believe in or teach creation here; you might get sued.”
Appeal to force/fear
Threatening to sue is irrelevant to the truth of creation
“Clearly, it is not wrong to abort babies. People have been doing it for thousands of years.”
Naturalistic fallacy
Just because something is a particular way, does not mean that it should be that way. The fact that many people abort babies does not make it right.
“If evolution is not true, then why do so many scientists accept it?”
Appeal to authority/majority
People have a sinful nature and, as such, do not always draw the most reasonable conclusion given the data.
“Well, of course Dr Dave is going to argue for a young earth. He is paid to do that. So you shouldn’t accept his argument.”
Circumstantial ad hominem
The fact that Dr Dave is motivated to make an argument does not mean that his argument is unsound.
“Of course creation cannot be true. Science is limited to the study of the natural world. But creation involves the supernatural.”
Irrelevant thesis
Whether or not creation is classified as “science” is totally irrelevant to whether or not it is true.
“The Oort cloud clearly must exist. No one has any proof that it doesn’t.”
Appeal to ignorance
Such a fallacy is always reversible. We could respond, “well, then there must be an Oort cloud; no one has any proof that it does exist.”
“Creationists are morons. Do not be fooled by their arguments.”
Abusive ad hominem
Attacking the person instead of the argument itself.
“Creationists do not believe in the scientific method. They simply look to the Bible for all the answers.”
Strawman fallacy
Misrepresents the creationist position, they do believe in the scientific method. Only the Bible can account for science since science is based on induction.
