Fallacies AngelM

1.Appeal To Fear
Description: X is presented, it causes fear. Therefore Y (which has some relationship to X) is true.

Example:

I know where you live, and I have friends who like a good fire...

Those who do not rejoice will burn in hell.

If Mike heard you saying that, he would not be very happy.

Discussion: Fear is a feeling when you know either something bad is gonna happen or when

you are a little kid who is afraid of the dark. Fear causes some people to either run away or

coward in a corner hoping everything will be fine.

2.Attack The Person
Description: Attack the person in some way. For example:

Attack their expertise, questioning their qualifications or experience

Criticize their physical appearance or dress

Comment on their inability to make a good argument

Point out their junior status

Attack their values as being contrary to social norms

Interpret a minor error as major

Attach them to discredited others

Example:

You are not qualified to make such a statement.

You would say that, wouldn't you.

And who do you think is going to believe you.

Of course you will defend your own department.

''You mean you have not considered Wikkin's work? That is a serious omission.''

Discussion: Attacking the person is a type of distraction, forcing them to defend themselves from

an argument or much worse.

3.Conspiracy Theory
Description: A is true. B is why the truth cannot be proven. So A is true.

Example:

e:''Flying saucers have landed. The government is covering it up, which is ''

''why there is no evidence about it. Of course they deny it!''

''The senior managers in this company are bleeding it dry. But then they ''

control the accounts, which is why finances seems to be healthy.

Discussion: Conspiracy Theories is a way of having or at least trying to have people believe in

specific types of myths or legends, it's a focus of attention that is moved by a person to disprove the

"proof"

4.False Analogy
Description: X has property Y. Z  is like X. Z therefore has property Y.

Example:

''People are like dogs. They respond best to clear discipline.''

''This soap is like a dream. It lifts you up to a spiritual plane.''

''A school is not so different from a business. It needs a clear competitive ''

strategy that will lead to profitable growth.

Discussion: Analogies are comparing one thing to another like A is like B, but in this instance A false analogy is

like a metaphor where A is B.

5.Poisoning The Well
Description: Discredit the other person before they speak. Or discredit the topic or argument that they may support.

Example:

Well, Jane will tell you something else, but then she always lived on the other side of the tracks.

Mike doesn't have a degree, but he does speak nicely, doesn't he.

Only an idiot would consider Didactus to have any useful opinion.

''Everybody knows that cold fusion is a proven impossibility. Jack: did you have something to say on this.''

Discussion: Discrediting people is reducing their authority, or making them feel like they are not that

they are below you.