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Reviewfrom Last Class The most used fallacy on Earth! Ad Hominem Several Types of Ad Hominem Fallacies 1. Personal Attack Ad Hominem 2. Inconsistency Ad Hominem 3. Circumstantial Ad Hominem 4. Poisoning the Well 5. Positive 6. Genetic

Group Exercise In groups of 3 to 6 Complete Exercise 7-1: #2, 3, 5, 6, 9 2. Inconsistency ad hominem 3. Poisoning the well 5. Genetic fallacy 6. Inconsistency ad hominem 9. Circumstantial ad hominem

Fallacies What s wrong with this argument? Do I want the police department to take charge of writing parking tickets? You mean, do I want to get shot if I pull up next to a fire hydrant? What do you think? Issue: Should the police department to take charge of writing parking tickets? Conclusion: No. Police departments shouldn t. Premise: Because I don t want to get shot if I pull up next to a fire hydrant. (huh?)

Fallacies #7. Straw Man Fallacy Distorting, oversimplifying, or misrepresenting a claim so that it is easier to refute. Do I want the police department to take charge of writing parking tickets? You mean, do I want to get shot if I pull up next to a fire hydrant? What do you think?

Fallacies What s wrong with this argument? Either we vote for a democratic president or the country is going to go into the gutter. Issue: Whether we should vote for a democratic president. Conclusion: Yes. We should Premise: I don t want the country to go into the gutter.

Fallacies #8. False Dilemma Limiting considerations to only two alternatives although others may be available (either/or, all/nothing, etc ) Are you kidding me? Either we get another department to write parking tickets or we ll start getting shot when we pull up to a fire hydrant.

Fallacies Where is the False Dilemma?

Fallacies #9. False Dilemma Special Type: Perfectionist Believing something is either perfect or must be rejected. What s wrong with this reasoning? It s impossible to eliminate terrorism entirely. We should stop wasting money on it. Can you think of (or make up) others?

Fallacies #10. False Dilemma Special Type: Line-Drawing Believing that either there is a precise place to draw a line or there is no line to be drawn. What s wrong with this reasoning? There shouldn t be restrictions on violence in the movies. After all, when is a movie too violent? You can t draw a line. Can you think of (or make up) others?

Fallacies What s wrong with this argument? No, I don t believe in three strikes and you re out for convicted felons. Next thing it will be two strikes, then one strike. Then we will be sticking people in jail for life for misdemeanors. It s not good policy. Issue: Whether three strikes and you re out is a good policy. Conclusion: No, it s not. Premise: Three strikes and you re out will lead to jail for life for misdemeanors.

Fallacies #11. Slippery Slope When it is assumed that some event must inevitably follow from some other event. No, I don t believe in three strikes and you re out for convicted felons. Next thing it will be two strikes, then one strike. Then we will be sticking people in jail for life for misdemeanors. It s not good policy.

Fallacies Where is the Slippery Slope Fallacy?

Fallacies What s wrong with this argument? Bill: "I think that Mr. Galindo has psychic powers." Jill: No way. What s your proof? Bill: Can you prove that he doesn t have psychic powers? Issue: Whether Mr. Galindo have psychic powers. Conclusion: Yes. Mr. Galindo has psychic powers. Premise:??

Fallacies #12. Misplacing the Burden of Proof When the burden of proof is placed on the wrong side of an issue. (The why not or prove it isn t true premise.) So how do we know which side of the issue has the burden of proof?

Fallacies So how do we know which side of the issue has the burden of proof? 1. The side that has less initial plausibility. Jim: I think I got a raise today because I have an invisible good luck unicorn living in my bathroom Kate: What? No way. Jim: Hey, can you prove that it s not true?

Fallacies So how do we know which side of the issue has the burden of proof? 2. Affirmative side, if all things are equal. Jane: High school graduates would be (affirmative) better off going straight to work rather than going to college. Marcia: Why? Jane: Prove that they wouldn t be (negative) better off!

Fallacies So how do we know which side of the issue has the burden of proof? 3. Special Circumstances (decided at the outset) Example Criminal Court Innocent until proven guilty.

Fallacies #13. Misplacing the Burden of Proof Special Case: Appeal to Ignorance. We should believe it because nobody has proved it isn t so. Example: Bill: "I think that Mr. Galindo has psychic powers." Jill: "What is your proof?" Bill: "No one has been able to prove that he doesn t have psychic powers."

What wrong with this argument? Fallacies

Fallacies #14. Begging the Question (circular reasoning) Using premises that already assume the conclusion is true. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/405668/january-10-2012/tip-wag--- irresponsible-dead-people---insensitive-papa-john-s https://showyou.com/v/h-9aptnb25rqx-56wx/tipwag-irresponsible-dead-people-insensitive-papa-johns Interviewer: "Your resume looks impressive but I need another reference. Bill: "Jill can give me a good reference. Interviewer: "Good. But how do I know that Jill is trustworthy? Bill: That s easy! I can vouch for her."

Group Exercise 7-3 #2, 3, 4, 6, 9 2. Perfectionist Fallacy 3. False Dilemma 4. Straw Man 6. Poisoning the Well 9. Begging the Question

Group Exercise You will be shown a series of arguments that use one of the fallacies we ve learned in class. 1. Identify the issue. 2. Identify the conclusion. 3. Identify the premise(s) used to support the conclusion. 4. Indicate which fallacy is being use. *Note: Some fallacies overlap. For instance straw man fallacies are similar to false dilemmas, and both are a type of red herring.

#1 (Ch 7) Either we increase the number of troops in Iraq or the terrorists will be attacking U.S. cities. Seems like a simple choice to me. Issue: Should we increase the number of troops in Iraq? Conclusion: Yes. We should increase Premise: Because I don t want terrorists attacking U.S. cities. False Dilemma

#2 (Ch 7) Jill: "I think the gun control bill shouldn't be supported because it won't be effective and will waste money." Bill: "Well, just last month you supported the bill. So I guess you're wrong now. Issue: Whether the gun control bill should be supported. Conclusion: Yes, it should be (according to Bill). Premise: Because last month Jill supported the bill, but now she don t. Inconsistency Ad Hominem

#3 (Ch 7) Just how much sex has to be in a movie before you call it pornographic? Seems to me the whole concept makes no sense. Issue: Whether we should label a movie as being pornographic. Conclusion: No, we shouldn t. Premise: Because there s no clear distinction when a movie has enough sex to be called pornographic. Line-Drawing Fallacy

#4 (Ch 7) Twenty percent? You want to tip her 20%? Hey, next thing you ll want to tip 25%! And then 30%! It will never end. Issue: Should we tip her 20%? Conclusion: No. We shouldn t tip her 20% Premise: Because I don t want her tips to be forever increasing. Slippery Slope

#5 (Ch 7) Jim: The Biblical flood really did wipe out all life on earth. Kate: I don t think it did. Jim: Hey, can you prove it didn t??? Issue: Did the biblical flood wipe out all life on earth. Conclusion: Yes. It did. Premise: Because you can t prove it didn t. Misplaced Burden of Proof

#6 (Ch 7) The trouble with impeaching the president is this. If we start going after him, next we ll be going after senators, representatives, governors. Pretty soon, no elected official will be safe from partisan attack. Issue: Whether we should impeach the president. Conclusion: No, we should not. Premise: Because it will lead to no elected officials being safe from partisan attacks. Slippery Slope

#7 (Ch 7) No, I don t believe we ought to reinstate the death penalty in this state. Doing it isn t going to prevent all crime, and you know it. Issue: Should we reinstate the death penalty. Conclusion: No, we shouldn t. Premise: Because doing it isn t going to prevent all crime. False Dilemma - Perfectionist fallacy.

#8 (Ch 7) The congressman thought the president s behavior was an impeachable offense. But that s nonsense, coming from the congressman. He had an adulterous affair himself, after all. Issue: Whether the president s behavior was an impeachable offense. Conclusion: It is not. Premise: Because the congressman, himself, had an adulterous affair. Inconsistency Ad Hominem

#9 (Ch 7) Your professor wants you to read Moore and Parker? Forget it. Their book is so far to the right it s falling off the shelf. Issue: Whether we should read (learn from) Moore and Parker Conclusion: We shouldn t. Premise: Because their book is so far to the right it s falling off the shelf. Poisoning the well.

#10 (Ch 7) I don t think postmodern expressionism is decent art. It s another style spawned by the East Coast art establishment, and, frankly, I m tired of what that group is dictating to the rest of the art world. Issue: Is postmodern expressionism descent art? Conclusion: No, postmodern expressionism isn t Premise: Because I m tired of what that group s dictating to the rest of the art world. Genetic Fallacy

#11 (Ch 7) Don t tell me I should wear my seat belt, for heaven s sake. I ve seen you ride a motorcycle without a helmet! Issue: Whether I should wear my seat belt. Conclusion: No, I shouldn t have to. Premise: Because you ride a motorcycle without a helmet! Inconsistency Ad Hominem

#12 (Ch 7) Twenty percent? You want to tip her 20%???? Hey, maybe you want to give her everything we make, but I frankly think that is ridiculous! Issue: Should we tip her 20%? Conclusion: No. We shouldn t tip her 20% Premise: Because I don t want to give her everything we make. Straw man

#13 (Ch 7) Of course you should buy a life insurance policy! Why shouldn t you? Issue: Whether you should buy a life insurance policy. Conclusion: Yes, you should. Premise: Because there s no reason that you shouldn t. Misplaced Burden of Proof

#14 (Ch 7) Of course that can t be a legitimate proposal. He s just trying to get the city council to pass a regulation that will stir up some business for himself. Issue: Whether it is a legitimate proposal. Conclusion: It is not. Premise: Because he s just trying to stir up some business for himself. Ad hominem (circumstantial, presumably).

#15 (Ch 7) The next speaker is going to speak in favor of the idea. But she works for the gun lobby. Don t even bother listening to what she says.. Issue: Whether we should listen to what she says. Conclusion: We shouldn t listen to. Premise: Because she works for the gun lobby. Poisoning the well.

#16 (Ch 7) Outlaw gambling? Man, that s a strange idea coming from you. Aren t you the one who plays the lottery all the time? Issue: Whether we should outlaw gambling. Conclusion: No. We should not! Premise: Because you are the one who plays the lottery all of the time. Inconsistency Ad Hominem

#1 (Ch 6) I ll tell you why a hundred dollars is enough child support. You go into court and ask for more, and I ll have my lawyer file a countersuit that will set you back a bundle in legal fees! Issue: Whether a hundred dollars is enough child support. Conclusion: Yes, it is. Premise: Because if you ask for more I ll file a countersuit and get lots of money from you. Scare tactics: Argument by force.

#2 (Ch 6) Frankly, I don t think you would be satisfied with anything less than our Model 24, which allows for more expansion than any other personal computer in its class. The way you catch on to things something I can tell just from the questions you ve asked here in the store you re not going to be happy with a machine whose limits you ll soon reach. Issue: Whether you ll be satisfied with anything less than our Model 24 Conclusion: No, you wouldn t be Premise: Because the way you catch on to things, you re not going to be happy with less. Argument from Pride (apple polishing)

#3 (Ch 6) Sure, driving after you ve been drinking can get you into trouble with the law, but if you re careful I don t think there s anything wrong with it. After all, everyone does it, right? Issue: Whether it s wrong to drink and drive. Conclusion: No, it s not wrong Premise: Because everyone does it. Common Practice

#4 (Ch 6) From a letter to the editor: They re wrong again, the doctors who say that the sun causes cancer. The four substances for all life are water, food, air, and sun. Everybody knows the sun opens the pores of your skin to release poisons; it cannot cause cancer. Cancer is caused by the toxins man puts in the air, not by sunlight. Issue: Whether sun causes cancer. Conclusion: No, it does not cause cancer. Premise: Because everybody knows Argument from Popularity

#5 (Ch 6) It says here that smoke from wood-burning stoves, no matter how airtight they re supposed to be, gets into your house and is a health hazard. No way. We just spent close to a thousand dollars on this new stove; what you re reading can t be true. Issue: Whether smoke from wood-burning stoves is a health hazard. Conclusion: No way. Premise: Because I just spent close to $1000 on this news stove. Wishful Thinking (I d also accept Rationalizing)

#6 (Ch 6) Me? I m going to vote with the company on this one. After all, I ve been with them for fifteen years. Issue: Whether I should vote with the company on this one. Conclusion: Yes. I should. Premise: Because I ve been with the company for fifteen years. Groupthink fallacy

#7 (Ch 6) Gays in the military? No way. Clinton promoted the idea just to get the homosexual vote. Issue: Should gays be in the military. Conclusion: No they shouldn t. Premise: Because Clinton promoted the idea just to get the homosexual vote. Red Herring

#8 (Ch 6) Are you telling me that you re twenty-one years old and still a virgin? I d keep quiet about that if I were you you d be the laughingstock of the dorm if that were widely known. Issue: Whether you should still be a virgin at 21. Conclusion: No, you shouldn t be. Premise: Because you ll be a laughing stock. Peer Pressure *If you said the issue was whether to keep quiet, then would this be a fallacy?

Group Exericse A series of passages will be shown. As a group, I want you to determine what type of pseudoreasoning/fallacy occurs, if any.

#1 Is the president guilty of sexual harassment, as the Republicans are yelping? Hey, give me a break! What s important is jobs, health care, welfare reform.

#2 Listen, Higgins. I need your vote in the next department election or I may not get elected chair. Remember, if I do get elected, it will be me who decides what hours your classes meet next year.

#3 When several people in Harvey s department get new computers, he is annoyed because he is not among them. I ll tell you what, Harvey says to his wife, if they want to rip me off by not getting a new computer for me, I ll just rip them off for extra office supplies. They ve got a lot of stuff at work we could use around here, and they ll have no way of knowing that it s gone. Turnabout s fair play.

#4 Toads do too cause warts. People have known that for centuries.

#5 Those four officers who killed the innocent man in New York by mistake should be found not guilty of any crime. None of them had ever been in any kind of trouble before, and, tragically, this kind of thing is just going to happen when we have aggressive police work.

#6 No, I don t believe that Uncle Bob is really gone forever. He was like a father to me, and I believe that someday, somehow or other, we ll see one another again; I don t think I could go on if I didn t believe that.

#7 Listen, friends, it s our money the board of supervisors wants to spend putting sewers and other improvements out there in that Antelope Creek development. And you know who s going to profit from it the most? The developers, who don t even live around here. I tell you, we have sat back and done nothing long enough! It s high time we told these out-of-town interlopers or antelopers or whatever they are to go mess with somebody else s town. I won t stand for it any more!

#9 George, I speak for the rest of the neighbors on our street. Frankly, your front yard is a mess, and we d appreciate it if you would do something about it. We put the time and money into making our places look nice, but the effort is largely ruined by one awful looking place right here in the middle of the block. We hope you ll do something about it.

#10 Ad for a store that sells pianos: Pianos are our only business. You ll get the best deal at the piano experts.

#11 It says here that smoke from wood-burning stoves, no matter how airtight they re supposed to be, gets into your house and is a health hazard. There s no way. We just spent close to a thousand dollars on this new stove; what you re reading can t be true.

#1 Is the president guilty of sexual harassment, as the Republicans are yelping? Hey, give me a break! What s important is jobs, health care, welfare reform. Red herring

#2 Listen, Higgins. I need your vote in the next department election or I may not get elected chair. Remember, if I do get elected, it will be me who decides what hours your classes meet next year. Scare tactics / Argument from Force

#4 Toads do too cause warts. People have known that for centuries. Argument from Popularity

#8 Gays in the military? No way. Clinton promoted the idea just to get the homosexual vote. Red herring

#10 Ad for a store that sells pianos: Pianos are our only business. You ll get the best deal at the piano experts. Red herring (That they sell nothing but pianos is irrelevant to how much they sell them for.)