Logical Fallacies 2020 Election

Logical Fallacies 2020 Election

Biden vs. Trump

What are Logical Fallacies?

Logical fallacies are missteps in reasoning, either intentionally or unintentionally, to win an argument.

On the surface, they appear logically sound, but under scrutiny they don’t hold up.

Strawman Fallacy

• someone distorts their opponent’s argument, making it seem weak so it can be easily destroyed

• EXAMPLE: People who don't support the proposed state minimum wage increase hate the poor.

Hasty Generalization

• conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence. In other words, you are rushing to a conclusion before you have all the relevant facts

• EXAMPLE: Even though it's only the first day, I can tell this is going to be a boring course.

Slippery Slope Fallacy

• a person claims one harmless event will lead to another and another, ending in something horrible

• EXAMPLE: If we ban Hummers because they are bad for the environment eventually the government will ban all cars, so we should not ban Hummers.

Ad Hominem Fallacy

• attacking the person instead of the argument

• Latin for “against the man”

• EXAMPLE: Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.

Red Herring Fallacy

• your opponent distracts from the topic at hand to something seemingly related

• EXAMPLE: The level of mercury in seafood may be unsafe, but what will fishers do to support their families?

Argument from Authority

• assuming a point is true because of the power of the person that said it

• EXAMPLE: A commercial claims that a specific brand of cereal is the best way to start the day because athlete Michael Jordan says that it is what he eats every day for breakfast.

Bandwagon Fallacy

• appealing to people’s natural need to be part of a group

• EXAMPLE: If you were a true American you would support the rights of people to choose whatever vehicle they want.

False Dichotomy

• framing the argument in a way to make it seem as if there are only two sides to choose from

• EXAMPLE: We can either stop using cars or destroy the earth.

Playing the Victim

• making your side of the argument seem more credible by claiming the other side has a bias against you

• EXAMPLE: a person who has done poorly in a class because of a lack of effort might tell his parents that “the professor has this thing against men.”

Let's Practice

With Trump

Multiple Choice

“In addition to winning the Electoral College in a landslide, I won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.”

No evidence was offered at this point. He expects people to just accept his assertion because he is the president.

• Bandwagon Fallacy

• Argument from Authority

Multiple Choice

“When the media – driven insane by their Trump Derangement Syndrome – reveals internal deliberations of our government, it truly puts the lives of many, not just journalists, at risk! Very unpatriotic!”

In other words, he is saying that people who disagree with him are not part of the group of patriots.

• Bandwagon Fallacy

• Red Herring Fallacy

Multiple Choice

“The Democrats would, I believe, I think they would give up the Second Amendment, and the people that, a lot of the people that put me where I am are strong believers in the Second Amendment, and I am also. And we have to be very careful about that, you know. And all of a sudden everything is taken away, we’re not going to let that happen.”

• Slippery Slope Fallacy

• Ad Hominem Fallacy

Now

With Biden

Multiple Choice

“... Folks, do you have any idea what this clown’s doing? I tell you what, he is not for anybody needing healthcare.”

• Red Herring Fallacy

• Ad Hominem Fallacy

Multiple Choice

“He panicked or he looked at the stock market. ... A lot of people died, and a lot more (are) going to die unless he gets a lot smarter a lot quicker.”

• False Dichotomy

• Argument from authority