Download Appeal to Ridicule 2nd period

Appeal to Ridicule
Appeal to Ridicule is a logical
fallacy that presents the
opponent’s argument in a way that
appears ridiculous, often to the
extent of creating a straw man of
the actual argument, rather than
addressing the argument itself.
-Appeal to Ridicule can refer to
mocking the opponents argument,
maturity, or logic, but does not
necessarily have to be funny.
Curtis, Gary. Virginia.edu. Fallacy Files, 2007. Web. 13 April 2011.
Universal Example:
• “The theory of evolution says we came
from apes. That's CRAZY!”
– The speaker here is ridiculing the theory of
Evolution by saying that it is “crazy.” Thus, the
speaker is implying that the theory is false.
n.p. Freethoughtpedia.com. Freethoughtpedia, 17 July 2009. Web. 13 April 2011.
Danforth commits a fallacy appealing to
ridicule when arguing with Giles in court.
• Giles: “This is a hearing; you cannot clap
me for contempt of hearing.”
Danforth: “Of it is a proper lawyer! Do you
wish me to declare the court in full session
here? Or will you give me a good reply?”
Act 3, page 214
This appeals to ridicule because it is a form
of mockery. Danforth is mocking Giles
because he thinks he knows the court
better than himself.
Proctor commits a fallacy when arguing with Parris
about the poppet.
• Parris: “Why could there not have been poppets
hid where no one ever saw them?”
Proctor: “There might be a dragon with five legs
in my house but no one has ever seen it.”
Act 3, page 217
This is appeal to ridicule because Proctor is
pointing out that Parris’ argument is as ridiculous
as a dragon being in his house.
Proctor commits a fallacy appealing to ridicule
when arguing with Parris.
• Parris: “Man! Don’t a minister deserve a house
to live in?”
Proctor: “To live in, yes. But to ask ownership is
like you shall own the meeting house itself, the
last meeting I were at you spoke so long on
deeds and mortgages I thought it were an
auction.”
Act 1, page 181
This is appeal to ridicule because Proctor is
ridiculing Parris on the way he teaches his
church and that’s why he doesn’t go.
Proctor commits a fallacy appealing to ridicule
when arguing on the way Parris teaches his
church.
• Proctor: “…But Parris came, and for twenty
week he preach nothin’ but golden candlesticks
until he had them…the man dreams cathedrals,
not clap board meetin’ houses.”
Act 2, page 198
This is appeal to ridicule because Proctor is
ridiculing Parris for being too concerned with the
way his church looks rather than the content he
preaches.
•
Spagnoli, Filip. Wordpress.com. Wordpress, 2008. Web. 13 April 2011.