Red Herring

what is the definition of a red herring?

• If A, then B, then C, ... then ultimately Z!

• Argument A is presented by person 1.

  Person 2 introduces argument B.

  Argument A is abandoned.

• Nobody likes or cares about X.

  Therefore, X is to blame for Y.

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which is a red herring

• Mike: It is morally wrong to cheat on your spouse, why on earth would you have done that?

  Ken: But what is morality exactly?

  Mike: It’s a code of conduct shared by cultures.

  Ken: But who creates this code?...

• Zebedee: What is your view on the Christian God?

  Mike: I don’t believe in any gods, including the Christian one.

  Zebedee: So you think that we are here by accident, and all this design in nature is pure chance, and the universe just created itself?

  Mike: You got all that from me stating that I just don’t believe in any gods?

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which is not a red herring

• My political candidate gives 10% of his income to the needy, goes to church every Sunday, and volunteers one day a week at a homeless shelter. Therefore, he is honest and morally straight.

• The reason New Orleans was hit so hard with the hurricane was because of all the immoral people who live there.

• Billy: How could the universe be 6000 years old when we know the speed of light, the distance of astronomical objects (13+ billion light years away), and the fact that the light has reached us[1]?

  Marty: 6000 years is not a firm number. The universe can be as old as about 10,000 years.

  Billy: How do you figure that?...

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which is a logical fallacy

• When a boss recommends someone for a promotion and makes the argument that the person really needs the additional money to support his family.

• When your mom gets your phone bill and you have gone over the limit, you begin talking to her about how hard your math class is and how well you did on a test today.

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Is the following an example of the Red Herring Fallacy?

Groupmate 1: "Hey, where's your contribution for the essay?"

Groupmate 2: "I was going to do it on my new iPad. My new iPad is so cool, it can scan my face and unlock itself."

Groupmate 1: "Oh really? My cousin's phone does that too."

• Yes

• No

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Is the following an example of the Red Herring Fallacy?

Flat-Earther: "The Earth is flat! The government is lying to us."

Sane Person: "Well, we have video evidence and science to prove it's round."

Flat-Earther: "You're just too stupid to see the truth."

• Yes

• No

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An argument that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important issue.

• straw man argument

• false causation

• red herring

• hasty generalization

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