Download SOME EXAMPLES FOR STUDY PURPOSES – Ad Hominem

SOME EXAMPLES FOR STUDY PURPOSES –
Ad Hominem - Attacking the individual instead of the argument.
A.Example: You are so slow your argument couldn't possibly be true.
B.Example: Why should we listen to Robby? He is just a loud mouth punk.
C. Example: My opponent had a student loan in college that she defaulted on. How can she be
trusted to regulate student loan debt?
Appeal to Fear (Ad Baculum) - Telling the hearer that something bad will happen to him if
he does not accept the argument.
A.Example: If you don't want to get beaten up, you will agree with what I say.
B.Example: Convert or burn eternally in Hades.
C. Example: “Class, I can let you goof off all day. I can also give you failing grades.”
Begging the Question/CIRCULAR REASONING - Assuming the thing to be true that you
are trying to prove or restating your premise with your proof. It is circular.
A.Example: Big exists because the Biggle says so. The Biggle is inspired by Big. Therefore, we
know that Big exists.
B.Example: I am a good worker because Frank says so. (How can we trust Frank?) Because I
will vouch for him.
C. Example: I am a smart guy because I am so very intelligent.
Post Hoc (Ad hoc ergo propter hoc) -Assuming that the effect is related to a cause
because the events occur together.
A.Example: When the rooster crows, the sun rises. Therefore, the rooster causes the sun to
rise.
B.Example: When the fuel light goes on in my car, I soon run out of gas. Therefore, the fuel light
causes my car to run out of gas.
False Dilemma - Giving two choices when in actuality there could be more choices
possible.
A.Example: You either did knock the glass over or you did not. Which is it?
B.Example: Do you still beat your wife?
C. Example: Vote Republican or you are not a Christian.
Non Sequitur - Comments or information that do not logically follow from a premise or
the conclusion.
A.Example: I know why it rained today: because there are too many red cars in the parking lot.
B.Example: I don't care what you say. We don't need any more bookshelves. As long as the
carpet is clean, we are fine.
Red Herring - Introducing a topic not related to the subject at hand.
A.Example: I know your car the car has a dent in it from the oil change, but at least you do not
have to replace all four tires!
B.Example: I know I forgot to deposit the check into the bank yesterday. But, nothing I do
pleases you.
Tu Quo Que – Producing an argument against another’s claim by saying, “YOU DO IT
TOO!”
A. Example: “That cop has some nerve giving me a ticket. I have seen him do 70 in his personal
car several times!”
B. Example: “You cannot tell me not to text and drive or our insurance will go up! YOU text and
drive!”
Hasty Generalization: -Definition: Making assumptions about a whole group or range of
cases based on a sample that is inadequate (usually because it is atypical or too small).
Stereotypes about people ("librarians are shy and smart," "wealthy people are snobs,"
etc.) are a common example of the principle underlying hasty generalization.
A. Example: "My roommate said her philosophy class was hard, and the one I'm in is hard, too.
All philosophy classes must be hard!" Two people's experiences are, in this case, not enough
on which to base a conclusion.
B. Example: “I had a Baptist best friend and she was so disrespectful to people. My cousin is
Baptist and he is also rude. All Baptists must be rude!”
Slippery slope
Definition: The arguer claims that a sort of chain reaction, usually ending in some dire
consequence, will take place, but there's really not enough evidence for that assumption.
The arguer asserts that if we take even one step onto the "slippery slope," we will end up
sliding all the way to the bottom; he or she assumes we can't stop partway down the hill.
It works because people are ignorant and believe it.
A. Example: "Animal experimentation reduces our respect for life. If we don't respect life, we are
likely to be more and more tolerant of violent acts like war and murder. Soon our society will
become a battlefield in which everyone constantly fears for their lives. It will be the end of
civilization. To prevent this terrible consequence, we should make animal experimentation
illegal right now." Since animal experimentation has been legal for some time and civilization
has not yet ended, it seems particularly clear that this chain of events won't necessarily take
place. Even if we believe that experimenting on animals reduces respect for life, and loss of
respect for life makes us more tolerant of violence, that may be the spot on the hillside at
which things stop—we may not slide all the way down to the end of civilization. And so we
have not yet been given sufficient reason to accept the arguer's conclusion that we must
make animal experimentation illegal right now.
False analogy (also weak analogy)
Definition: Many arguments rely on an analogy between two or more objects, ideas, or
situations. If the two things that are being compared aren't really alike in the relevant
respects, the analogy is a weak one, and the argument that relies on it commits the
fallacy of weak analogy.
A. Example: "Guns are like hammers—they're both tools with metal parts that could be used to
kill someone. And yet it would be ridiculous to restrict the purchase of hammers—so
restrictions on purchasing guns are equally ridiculous."
B. If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we cure cancer!
Non-Disproof and Appeal to ignorance
Definition: In the appeal to ignorance, the arguer basically says, "Look, there's no
conclusive evidence on the issue at hand. Therefore, you should accept my conclusion
on this issue."
A. Example: "People have been trying for centuries to prove that Bigfoot exists. But no one has
yet been able to prove it. Therefore, Bigfoot does not exist." Here's an opposing argument
that commits the same fallacy: "People have been trying for years to prove that Bigfoot does
not exist. But no one has yet been able to prove it. Therefore, Bigfoot exists." In each case,
the arguer tries to use the lack of evidence as support for a positive claim about the truth of a
conclusion.
FALSE AUTHORITY--ALL TYPES
ALSO KNOW ALL OF THE PERSUASIVE DEVICES –– PREMISE – OBJECTIVE AND
SUBJECTIVE
(bandwagon, loaded words, testimonial, name calling, plain folks, snob appeal, misuse of
statistics, transfer).
Bandwagon: Any ad that uses the appeal of “everyone is doing it” either explicitly saying so or
by including something that lets you do the math and figure it out.
Loaded Words: Any ad that uses emotive words that influence your thoughts and inflate the
product in your mind.
Testimonial: Any ad that uses a spokesperson or previous customer’s testimony that the
product works or is good.
EXAMPLE:
Name Calling: Any ad that promotes one product by putting another down.
Plain Folks: Any ad that promotes a product or political party by using people “just like you” or
“just like America”.
Snob Appeal: Any ad that promotes a product by saying only the elite use it or that you may not
be good enough for it.
Misuse of Statistics: Manipulating data presentation or statistics to make a product seem better
or more favorable.
Transfer: Using a background image with your product in hopes that the viewer or listener will
“transfer” the good feelings they have for the product onto the product or speaker.
Card Stacking: Only telling part of the story – THE FAVORABLE PART THAT HELPS YOUR
PRODUCT OR CAUSE – when there are other facts that hurt it. (Stacking the deck in your favor
omitting relevant facts that hurt you.)
KNOW BIAS and INFERENCE and CAUSE – EFFECT.