Fallicies 2 Flashcards
appeal to age
this states that older is always the same thing as better.
Examples: “I would rather drive a 20 year old car because they really knew
how to make them in those days.”
“ What we need in schools is to get back to basics.”
“ We’ve been in business for 20 years-we know how to do it right.”
appeal to novelty
this states that newer is always the same thing as better.
Examples: “This isn’t your father’s Ford.”
“Your old-fashioned ways are meaningless now.”
appeal to poverty
this attaches an automatic value on being poor.
Examples: “Teachers don’t make a lot of money; that’s why it is such a
noble profession.”
“There is no such thing as a rich, happy man.”
“ Let us admire the quiet dignity of the poor.”
appeal to money
this attaches an automatic value on being rich.
Examples: “Candidate Smith has raised a million dollars for his
campaign, while Candidate Jones only raised half that.
Therefore, Smith will be elected.”
“He who has the most toys, wins the game of life.”
“Castle Anthrax” is the #1 film because it made the most money.”
appeal to pity
creating pity in the mind justifies a lowering of standards.
Examples: “My client, although he did kill those 20 people, had a hard
childhood. Abused and abandoned, he was scarred and
less ethically developed, and is not responsible for his actions.”
“Thousands have died in this war. We can’t dishonor their memory
by stopping the war now.”
“You can’t increase environmental standards-hundreds of jobs will
be lost during the Christmas season.”
appeal to flattery
praising the listener to engender agreement.
Examples: “Choosy mothers choose Jiff!”
“Jaguar-made for the discriminating driver.”
“Smart citizens like you know how crooked the other candidate is!”
appeal to unqualified authority
non-expert pretends to be one.
Examples: “As president, I intend to make our schools accountable for the
success of each and every child.”
“Hello, I’m Ahnold, and I want to be your Governor.”
“My son, the doctor, said to take this medicine.” (actress’s words)
no true Scotsman
seeks to limit choice by threatening membership in a group
Examples: “It is Un-American to attend protest rallies during a time of war.”
“What do you mean you don’t hate LHS? Then you’re no Eagle!”
“You don’t drink/smoke/hate school-hey, you can’t hang with us.”
ampiboly
Greek for double, it means two meanings are possible, yet the
speaker wants the listener to hear only one.
Examples: “I am against all taxes, which slow the economy.”
“I did not have relations with that woman.”
“Mission accomplished.”
complex question
the speaker seeks simple answers to complex
issues. Or when there is no correct/relevant answer at all.
Examples: “In 20 seconds, tell America why you want to be president.”
“Are you still beating your wife?”
“Vote yes/no on this environmental bill?”
slippery slope
states that one thing will lead to all things.
Examples: “If we lose Viet Nam, then the Communists will end up taking
over all of Asia, then Europe will be next.”
“If partial birth abortion is passed, then, eventually, a woman’s
right to choose will be forbidden by law.”
“First gray hair? Soon you’ll look like your grandmother.
Better buy our hair coloring before they put you away in a home.”
argument of the beard
attempts to put a number in place of a value
judgement. Based on the question: “How many hairs make a beard?”
Examples: “How many soldiers must die before we stop this war?”
“How many pounds must you lose before you’re confident?”
“How many friends must I have before I’m popular?”
two wrongs make a right
assumes a kind of justice or balance when a
wrong follows another wrong.
Examples: “They aren’t rioting, they’re protesting the abuses of the past.”
“My first boy/girl friend broke my heart; I’ll be the heartbreaker
in my next relationship.”
“The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor-let’s take all the Japanese-
Americans and put them in camps in the desert so we can
keep an eye on them.”
red herring
distracting 2nd “issue” attached to first issue and made to seem as if there is a logical connection.
Examples: “We can’t raise taxes for schools because you know how
politicians waste our money.”
“We must pass this hastily drawn up prescription plan today.
Otherwise, even more seniors will be buying Canadian meds.”
“This trial isn’t about whether or not my client is a child molester;
it’s about the brutal treatment he received when he was arrested.”
argument from ignorance
assumes the lack of facts creates a new fact.
Examples: “Since scientists cannot conclusively prove global warming exists,
then that just proves there isn’t any global warming at all.”
“They haven’t found any weapons of mass destruction; therefore,
there never were any.”
“Just because no one’s told you smell funny, doesn’t mean you
don’t. Pick up a can of Denham’s Deodorant today!”
