Fallacies of RelevanceAndre ChiaAkaisha CookJacie CrapoJoel FinkielszteinBrooke Gantman

Personal Attack• When a person substitutes abusive

remarks for evidence when attacking another person’s claim

Personal Attack Examples• In a school debate, Bill claims that the

President’s economic plan is unrealistic. His opponent, a professor, retorts by saying “the freshman has his facts wrong

• This theory about a potential cure for cancer has been introduced by a doctor who is a known lesbian feminist. I do not see why we should extend an invitation for her to speak at the World Conference on Cancer.”

• That claim cannot be true. Dave believes it, and we know how morally repulsive he is

Argument ad Populum• A logical fallacy stating that just

because something is popular it is true.• Examples• If the jury vote in court by majority, their decision is always correct•9 out of 10 dentist recommend this brand, so it must be the best•Google gives more hits with this spelling, so that spelling is correct.

Argument ad Populum cont.• Bandwagon• something is correct because it is something everyone believes/ follows.

• Patriotic Approach• something is right because it is somewhat patriotic

• Snob Approach• something is right because all the best people are doing it.

Appeal to Tradition• When it is assumed that something is

better or correct simply because it is older, traditional, or “always has been done.”1. X is old or tradition2. Therefore Y is correct or better

• The age of something does not automatically make it correct or better than something newer.

Appeal to Tradition Examples• The theory that witches and demons cause

disease is far older than the theory that microorganisms cause diseases. Therefore, the theory about witches and demons must be true.

• Of course this mode of government is the best. We have had this government for over 200 years and no one has talked about changing it in all time. So, it has got to be good.

• Dave: For five generations, the men in our family went to Stanford and became doctors, while the women got married and raised children. Therefore, it is my duty to become a doctor.

Appeal to Tradition cont.• Appeal to Improper Authority•When the person in question is not a legitimate authority on the subject. More formally, if person A is not qualified to make reliable claims on subject S.• Person A is (claimed to be) an authority

on subject S.• Person A makes claim C about subject S.• Therefore, C is true

Appeal to Tradition cont.• Appeal to Emotion•When someone manipulates others’ emotions in order to get them to accept a claim as being true• Favorable emotions are associated with

X, therefore X is true.

Argument from Adverse Consequences• Uses a possible negative outcome

(the premise) as a reason for the conclusion that discounting a particular behavior is desirable.• If A is true the it implies, cause, or

creates, B.• B is, either subjectively or objectively,

bad, immoral, or undesirable• Therefore, A is False

Argument from Adverse Consequences Examples• If my father had committed the crime of

which he's accused, our family would be disgraced. Therefore, my father is innocent.

• If evolution is true, then life is meaningless. Therefore evolution is false.

• Evolution may lead to some people theorizing eugenics, and eugenics is bad, therefore teaching evolution is bad.

Argument from Personal Incredulity• I do not understand the theory therefore it

cannot be true.

• Examples• Personal argument that states "I don't

understand it therefore it cannot be true”• Creationists are fond of arguing that they

cannot imagine the complexity of life resulting from blind evolution, but that does not mean life did not evolve.

Asyndeton• Using no conjunctions to create an

effect of speed or simplicity

Asyndeton Examples• 'For the conclusion, the disconnected style of

language is appropriate, and will mark the difference between the oration and the peroration. 'I have done. You have heard me. The facts are before you. I ask for your judgment.' -From Rhetoric, Book III, Chapter 19 by Aristotle

• He received applause, prizes, money, fame.• She is addicted to chocolates, cakes, cookies.

Anadiplosis• Figure of repetition that occurs when

the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase

Anadiplosis examples• Fear is the path of the dark side. Fear leads to

anger. Anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, I since much fear in you – Yoda, Star Wars

• Kinetic energy is also known as the energy of motion. A vehicle's energy of motion doubles when its weight doubles. When a vehicle's weight doubles, it needs about twice the distance to stop.

• The love of wicked men converts to fear,That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both To worthy danger and deserved death.

Synesthesia• A metaphorical process by which one

sense modality is described or characterized in terms of another.

•A bright sound•A quiet color• I catch the sound and it takes me into the cold

Ellipsis• The omission of a word or phrase

(that is) obviously understood

• “Begin when ready” for “Begin when you are ready•Her hair was silver tipped, her eyes large and bright•There is much to support the view that clothes wear us, and not we, them.

Metonymy• Figure of speech in which a thing or

concept is not called by its own name, but by the name of something intimately associated with that thing or concept.• The White House (referring to the American Administration)• Dish (to refer to an entire plate of food)• Suits of Wall Street (Stock workers)

Exemplification• A specific event, person, or detail of

an idea is cited or developed to support or illustrate a thesis or topic

Exemplification Examples• Brown vs. Board of Education ruling to

explain why civil unions are illegal• I have found that antiques often can be a

better choice than newly manufactured furniture when it comes to economy, quality and adding personality to your home

• For 10 years, I taught public school. Aside from the kid who ruined my carefully- planned lessons by making animal sounds, nothing bothered me more than the language educators…

Thank you!