Fallacies designed to exploit emotional responses Fallacies of Pathos Fallacies designed to exploit emotional responses

Excluded Middle (either/or) Reduces issues down, and exploits our fears of one of the options “If we do not confront these evil men abroad, we will have to face them one day in our cities and streets.” - George W. Bush, August 8, 2005

Slippery-Slope “If school officials can regulate what’s ‘decent’ attire, it is a short trip to forced uniforms and crew-cuts.” - letter to The Oregonian, 2005

Practice - With a partner, construct one Fallacy of the excluded middle, or one slippery-slope fallacy.

Appeal To Pity (The Galileo Argument) “I’m not to blame! I’ve had a tough life!” The world scoffed Galileo and Copernicus too, you know. Skeptics are quick to judge, but time bests decides.

Argument by Emotive Language using emotionally loaded language (ex: euphemisms, doublespeak) to sway the audience’s sentiments rather than their minds ex: shacking up; friendly fire; rightsizing ex: You don’t support drone strikes? Are you a terrorist?

Bandwagon Appeals appeal to widespread belief “If all your friends jumped off a bridge..” McCarthy hearings of the 50’s

Appeal To Fear (Scare Tactic) Action A is connected to fear B, without actual, proven connection. “You’re giving me detention? My dad is friends with the school Superintendent, you know. Are you sure you want to put yourself in jeopardy?” “You do realize that the Republicans hate poor people…”

Practice - Which fallacies are these, and why? “If we don’t hire more police in the school, children will be killed in a school shooting.” “If we legalize marijuana, then we will inevitably legalize heroin.”