Fallacies of Logos

 Fallacy = a flawed component of an argument that renders the argument invalid (they seek to - and have power because they - exploit the emotional or intellectual weaknesses of the audience)

 the person, instead of the argument, is attacked ex: How can you argue for vegetarianism when you wear leather boots? ex: Mr. Clements’s opinions about politics are uneducated because he teaches English.

 an exaggerated version of the opponent’s position is attacked in order to make it easier to knock down ex: Evolution means a dog giving birth to a cat ex: People who think abortion should be banned have no respect for the rights of women; they treat them as nothing but baby-making machines with no minds.

 Which fallacies is this, and why? "Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program. I can't understand why he wants to leave the country defenseless like that."

 Assuming that something true in general is true in every possible case Ex. The Bible clearly says, “thou shall not bear false witness”, therefore, as a Christian, you better answer the door and tell our drunk neighbor with the shotgun, who’s looking to kill his wife, that she is hiding in your basement, otherwise you are defying God himself!

 Origin indicates accuracy or inaccuracy of argument “As a child, Lisa was brainwashed by a cult into thinking that people are generally good. Therefore, people are not generally good.”  The fact that Lisa may have been brainwashed as a child, is irrelevant to the claim that people are generally good.

 an argument in which the premise is as questionable as the conclusion, or redundant. ex: In order to discourage violent crime, we must have a death penalty. ex: You should exercise because it’s good for you. (in both cases, you have to see the explicit or implied first part of the argument as true in order to see the second part as true.)

 Identify the kinds of fallacies, then construct one of a similar type for each “The fact that people born in September have similar personalities proves that astrology is true.” “The U.S. is a democracy, and everyone should be allowed to vote – and that’s why we have to allow criminals and children to vote.”