By: Hanna Mangold
At this point in your college career, you may have heard
professors talking about, and discouraging, the use of logical fallacies in
argumentative papers. The term “logical fallacies” actually refers to a wide
range of errors in reasoning, and it can get a little confusing. I’m going to
point out several definitions and examples in order to help you make sense of
the logical fallacies problem.
Although the various types of logical breakdowns have
specific names (you may have heard of the “Slippery Slope” or “Straw Man”
fallacies), it’s much more important to recognize that a logical fallacy has
been made, than to be able to identify the specific type of fallacy.
Once you become familiar with the logical fallacy concept,
I’m sure you’ll start seeing them everywhere! Politicians and advertisers are
infamous abusers of logic—usually as an attempt to discredit their competition.
The problem, of course, is that an invalid argument ends up making them sound
desperate and deliberatively deceitful. Sometimes logical fallacies are used
for humorous purposes—these examples poke fun at people who use false logic.
Have you seen
Monty
Python and the Holy Grail? In one famous scene, a mob of medieval peasants
seeks to convict a woman of witch craft (watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g&authuser=0).
The mob’s logic (inductive and deductive reasoning) makes sense, but it is
rendered completely fallacious by the false premises they set as indicators of
witchcraft.
A more recent example can be found here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTvFuA6wNhY&authuser=0),
in a compilation of DirectTV commercials. In this advertising campaign,
DirectTV makes fun of advertisers who use faulty logic to promote their
products, by using faulty logic in a humorous way.
So, onto the nitty gritty:
What is a logical
fallacy?
1.
According to yourdictionary.com:
The term "logical fallacy" refers to the concept
of making an error in terms of reasoning. It is crucial to
understand logical fallacies so that they can be identified and
avoided when attempting to persuade.
2.
According to sources compiled on
grammar.about.com:
An error in reasoning that renders
an argument invalid.
“Logical fallacies are unsubstantiated assertions that are
often delivered with a conviction that makes them sound as though
they are proven facts" (McMullin, The New Handbook of Cognitive
Therapy Techniques, 2000).
“A logical fallacy is a false statement that weakens an
argument by distorting an issue, drawing false conclusions, misusing
evidence, or misusing language" (Dave Kemper et al., Fusion:
Integrated Reading and Writing. Cengage, 2015).
3.
According to the PurdueOWL:
Fallacies are
common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument.
Fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are
often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim. Avoid
these common fallacies in your own arguments and watch for them in the
arguments of others. (PurdueOWL)
Why is it important
to recognize these lapses in reasoning?
·
In order to identify weak arguments in source
material/news articles.
·
In order to think critically about what we hear
and how people are attempting to persuade us.
·
In order
to avoid making weak arguments in our own writing.
"There are three good reasons to avoid logical
fallacies in your writing. First, logical fallacies are wrong and, simply
put, dishonest if you use them knowingly. Second, they take away from the
strength of your argument. Finally, the use of logical fallacies can make your
readers feel that you do not consider them to be very intelligent"
(William R. Smalzer, Write to Be Read: Reading, Reflection, and Writing,
2nd ed. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2005) (from grammar.about.com).
Think about it, why would you want to avoid making a logical
fallacy? What does it do to your argument? To your authority on the subject?
The following links
are a few great sources for exploring logical fallacies more closely:
http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/logicfalterm.htm (some good
definitions and examples)
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ (a fun interactive website
and printable poster that break down types of fallacies)
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/659/03/ (good
definition and breakdown of examples by type)
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, look at the
bloody clothes, the murder weapon. Imagine the helpless screams of the victim.
Such a crime deserves no verdict except guilty, guilty!
I’m not a doctor, but I play a doctor on TV, and
I wouldn’t dream of using anything but Tylenol for my toughest headaches.
We should pass a constitutional amendment making
it illegal to burn the American flag. Anyone who thinks otherwise just hates
America.
Do most Americans believe in God? To find out,
we asked over 10,000 scientists at colleges and universities throughout America.
Less than 40 percent said they believed in God. The conclusion is obvious: Most
Americans no longer believe in God.
The Soviet Union collapsed after taking up
atheism. Therefore, we must avoid atheism for the same reasons.
You’re a vegetarian? You do realize that Hitler
was a vegetarian, too?
The war in Iraq has been a complete success.
After all, Saddam Hussein is dead, and the Iraqis had their first free election
in years.
Most heroin users started out smoking pot. If
you start smoking pot, you’ll end up a heroin user, too.
