Propaganda and Logical Fallacies An Introduction to the Art of Argument

Propaganda Propaganda is information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

Bandwagon Bandwagon: makes the appeal that “everyone else is doing it, and so should you.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmB_Uw5fVec http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUZrrbgCdYc

Glittering Generalities Glittering Generalities: use of virtue words; the opposite of name calling, i.e., links a person, or idea, to a positive symbol.

Begging the Question Begging the Question: a type of informal fallacy in which an implicit premise would directly entail the conclusion; in other words, basing a conclusion on an assumption that is as much in need of proof or demonstration as the conclusion itself.

Cardstacking Cardstacking: Manipulating information to make a product appear better than it is often by unfair comparison or omitting facts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5z0Ia5jDt4

Plain Folks Plain Folks: attempt to convince the audience that a prominent person and his ideas are “of the people.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoGoeT41onM

Fear Fear: plays on deep-seated fears; warns the audience that disaster will result if they do not follow a particular course of action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y8YVqECqeE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKI4t5MFG1E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMIYVDuyX1Q

Logical Fallacies Fallacies are common errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument. Fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and are often identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim. Avoid these common fallacies in your own arguments and watch for them in the arguments of others.

Slippery Slope Slippery Slope: This is a conclusion based on the premise that if A happens, then eventually through a series of small steps, through B, C,..., X, Y, Z will happen, too, basically equating A and Z. So, if we don't want Z to occur, A must not be allowed to occur either. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtdBe4ILXyM

Either/Or Either/or: This is a conclusion that oversimplifies the argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y07LWxXiV8E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_dZqj7I4yg

False Authority False Authority is a tactic used by many writers, especially in advertising. An authority in one field may know nothing of another field. Being knowledgeable in one area doesn’t constitute knowledge in other areas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPzKntJo-IY

Post Hoc Post hoc ergo propter hoc: This is a conclusion that assumes that if 'A' occurred after 'B' then 'B' must have caused 'A.’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRJUvFG8gbE

Circular Argument Circular Argument: This restates the argument rather than actually proving it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CVbku6nxhU

Ad Hominem Ad hominem: This is an attack on the character of a person rather than his or her opinions or arguments.

Reductio Ad Absurdum Reductio Ad Absurdum: a method of disproving a proposition by showing that its inevitable consequences would be absurd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWGiOuzpe4

Straw Man Straw Man: This move oversimplifies an opponent's viewpoint and then attacks that hollow argument.