Monday, March 4, 2013

Logical Fallacies

Poisoning the Well

Trying to prove that all claims a person makes "must" be false, because of a negative statement presented that completely discredits him/her


Example: 

Sam (to Kate):  Richard is a lying cheater, he's been divorced 4 times
Kate: No kidding? Wow


After:
Richard (to Kate) : Dunkin Donuts is closed today, because of the national holiday


Later: 
Sam: Did you talk to him?
Kate: Richard said Dunkin Donuts is closed, but there's no way that's true because he never tells the truth 



Misleading Vividness

A fallacy in which very few, but intense events happen, and those are used to try and disprove lots of scientific evidence

Example

Megan:  Did you see in the paper how that woman was murdered by her boyfriend? 
Kailee: I did!
Megan: It was right down the street from you. Are you going to move?
Kailee: Of course not, it was a one time crime. The boyfriend isn't going to murder others on our street now
Megan: You're making a big mistake, I would move if I was you or you're going to be killed!


Example 3
http://www.sheffnersweb.net/blogs/sheffnersoffice/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ad_hominem1.jpg





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