1

Fallacies

2

Begging the Question

• No support/ evidence

• *Everybody knows that MJC students are the brightest in the East.

• This begs the question: Where is the evidence? / where is the proof?

• Ans: I know because it is true.

3

Red Herring

• Irrelevant / misleading evidence.

• Distracts the audience from the real argument.

• *Ali could not have stolen the candy because the shopkeeper was overtly racist.

• The shopkeeper’s racism is not an issue -Ali’s possession of stolen candies is.

4

Non Sequiter

• Conclusion does not follow the evidence.

• *Women should not be HODs because they are not as strong as men.

• *Mr Chiam should not be MP cos’ he only has 4 As.

• What has strength to do with anything?

• What has grades to do with being a MP?

5

Straw Man

• Attributing an argument to an opponent that he has never made. Then proceeds to demolish the pseudo-argument.

• *Female Councillor, “My gender is not a problem in this election. In fact my gender will add value to the school.”

• Who ever said that female councillors are going to be problems?

6

Stacked Evidence

• One sided argument.• * All TV promotes

family values. Eg. Under One Roof, Growing Up, Sesame Street…

• Did not consider: Son of the Beach, Baywatch, Melrose Place…

7

Either-Or

• Oversimplified into Black or White.

• *Women must either be housewives or career women.

• *You are either my friend or my enemy!

• *Vote PAP or face economic ruin!

• No room for middle-ground; too extreme ignore grey areas in real life.

• Force people to choose.

8

Post Hoc

• Claim that one thing to another.

• *Smoking is what a real man does.

• *Using “Eternity” by Calvin Klein will drive hordes of men wild.

• *Ignore Jason. It always rains with him around.

• Wrong claim.

9

Hasty Generalization

• Jump to conclusions• Stereotyping• *Mr Pang’s wife gave him

a big scolding last night. Therefore he is a henpecked husband.

• Absolutely rubbish. Mr Pang is just being understanding & open about issues.

10

Ad Hominen

• <add – hall – minen>• Prejudiced / biased

against the person• Poisoning the well.• *Clinton is not fit to be

a President because he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky.

• Sexual Affairs vs Political Ability

11

Guilt by Association

• A person is judged because of the misdeeds of friends/ association.

• *Hillary cannot be president because Bill had an affair with Lewinsky.

• Bill’s problems have nothing to do with her.

12

Using Authority

• Relies on authority to prove a point.

• * We must take our temperatures because Miss Lai said so.

• The main reason is SARS.

I am Boss

13

Bandwagon Appeal

• Everyone is doing something so you should also.

• *I must get a girlfriend ‘cos Samson has one.

• Do not follow the crowd.

14

Slippery Slope

• Domino effect.• Scare tactic• Sliding to disaster.• *If we have one boy

with long hair today, the school will go to dogs tomorrow.

• Exaggeration!

15

False Needs

• Heighten the false sense of need.

• *If you want smart kids, you must buy a set of encyclopaedias.

• * If you want white shiny teeth, you must use Oral B.