Logical Fallacies

Thursday, March 22

1. Name-CallingFallacy that attempts to ruin an opponent’s reputation with an unfavorable label.

(It often backfires.)

Name-Calling in the NewsRush Limbaugh referred to a woman who wanted the cost of contraception covered by healthcare as a “prostitute.”

Bill Maher has also used female vulgarisms to

criticize female politicians.

Both have been heavily-criticized lately.

Name-Calling in the News

2. Either/Or• A fallacy that presents only a limited range

of choices• In reality, there can be many more.

Either/Or Examples

• “You’re either with us or against us.”• “You can support your country by

voting for me, or you can watch it fall to pieces.”

• “If you don’t fight against animal abuse, you must condone it.”

3. Hasty GeneralizationA fallacy in which a conclusion is made about

an entire group based on a sample that isn’t big enough.

Example:“A group of Muslims were responsible for 9/11

attacks. Therefore, no Muslims can be trusted.”

Hasty Generalization in the NewsZimmerman (right): “This guy looks like he’s

up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”

Trayvon Martin’s shooting death—racial profiling?

4. Cause and Effect“A and B occur together.

Therefore, A is the cause of B.”

Cause and Effect Example

Many people think the following:“Rap is ruining our youth. They should ban

rap music from TV and radio because all it does is tell kids to kill cops, do drugs, and abuse women.”

How is this an example of false cause/effect?

Cause and Effect In the News

“Does God hate Haiti? That is the conclusion reached by many, who point to the earthquake as a sign of God’s direct and observable judgment.” – Albert Mohler

5. Loaded LanguageLanguage that carries with it a heavy emotional charge.Can be positive or negative.

Unloaded Negatively LoadedAnimal BeastHome CavePlan TrapInform BrainwashTalk Lecture

Loaded Language Example“Mary screeched at her new employees and

dictated their every move while she slithered around the workroom.”

Which words carry a heavier meaning?• “Screeched,” “dictated,” and “slithered”

Loaded Language Example 2“Mary’s angelic voice soothed her new

employees’ nerves as she glided throughout the workroom.”

Which words carry a heavier meaning?• “Angelic,” “soothed,” and “glided”

Have some practice…

See if you can identify which logical fallacy occurs in the following examples.

Have some practice…1. The following describes a famous speech given by

Douglas MacArthur:

“Here was prophecy as revealing as a beacon light…. Here was hope: the dedication that we will live in a world where those of us who are Americans can be proud…. Here was history tolling like an old and important bell: the mighty warning that mighty America, once having entered this major war, must not let it end in impasse….”

Answer: Loaded language (positive)Prophecy, beacon light, hope, proud, mighty

Have some practice…

2. Robin: I guess you can never trust a woman.Batman: You've made a _______________________, Robin. It's a bad habit to get into.

Answer: hasty generalization

Robin falsely assumed that all women are untrustworthy.

Have some practice…

3. “Will you donate to protect endangered animals, or will you watch them disappear before your eyes?”

Answer: either/or

The speaker makes us feel like only two choices are available. In reality, there are more.

Have some practice…

4. “You just can’t trust that misguided idiot.”

Answer: name-calling

The speaker attempts to make someone else look bad by labeling him/her an “idiot.”

Have some practice…

5. “Money makes people arrogant.”

Answer: false cause/effect

Not all people, and not always just money.