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GARCIA, Mary Grace J.

PONCE, Jozelle Marie N.

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FALLACY OF DIVERSION

lead the discussion away from the issues bydirecting it elsewhere

committed when one changes the issue in themiddle of an argument

to make the audience forget the point orbecome unwilling to consider it

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FALLACY OF DIVERSION

in order to avoid defeat one sidesteps the issue

to win on a different ground

Devices: resorting to humor, bringing up

irrelevant material, interrupting thought with

protests or questions

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Example 1

Since Senator Coulthard wants to decrease defense spending,And this would fail to support our troops in the Middle East,

And weaken our military position around the world,

And we would not be able to keep our commitments abroad,

Because we would become a second-rate military power,[and since we shouldsupport our troops and should not

weaken our military position around the world,](implicit

moral premise)

And we shouldkeep our commitments abroad,] (implicit

moral premise)

[Therefore, we should not adopt the senators proposal.]

(implicit conclusion)

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Example 2

MARCIA: Unless we build a power plant in thisarea within the next ten years, we wont be

able to meet the significantly growing demand

for electrical power.

DAVID: What youre saying is that you couldnt

care less what happens to the plant life and

wildlife area or even to human lives that mightbe dislocated by the building of this dam.

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Example 3

"I fail to see why hunting should beconsidered cruel when it gives

tremendous pleasure to many people

and employment to even more."

So we should stop talking about cruelty

and start talking about pleasure and

employment?

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Example 4

Christianity is the only true religion: Ithas clearly been of great help to many

people."

No matter how well he argues how much

it has helped people, he will not have

shown that Christian teachings are true.

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Example 5

"It is very clear that we prescribepsycho-active medications to

people who dont really need

them.

We should outlaw these drugs

altogether!"

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RED-HERRING

-When you introduce an irrelevant

issue into the debate to divert your

opponentor audience from the original issue

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Example

You know, I've begun to think that there issome merit in the Conservatives tax cut plan.

I suggest that you come up with

something like it, because if we Liberals are

going to survive as a party, we have got to

show that we are as tough-minded as they are,

since thats what the public wants.

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STRAW MAN ARGUMENT

-misrepresent your opponents position,

and then proceed to argue against the

distortion you yourself created

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EXAMPLE

"Senator Jones says that we should not fund the

attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I

can't understand why he wants to leave us

defenseless like that."