Appeal to Ridicule Andrea Wallace & Alexis Crews Argument from Authority or Argument from False Authority

Definition A logical fallacy which presents the opponent’s argument in a way that appears ridiculous, often to the extent of creating a straw man of the actual argument, rather than addressing the argument itself.

Universal Example

Appeal to ridicule is a fallacy where making fun of something is used as the argument instead of facts. The argument in the picture is that the dogs must be stupid because they look ridiculous. The argument points out the dogs’ appearances to create a straw man.

Picture Analogy

This picture demonstrates appeal to ridicule because it is a picture of a guy making the symbol that he is mocking someone. This is exactly what this fallacy does in an argument. It points out other’s flaws as an argument instead of the real issue.

The Crucible Examples The first fallacy is on Pg. 214, Act 3 Danforth: “Oh it is a proper lawyer! Do you wish me to declare the court in full session here or will you give me a good reply?” This quote is an example of Appeal to Ridicule because it is making fun of or mocking Giles Cory. Giles said that he never needed a lawyer to defend him in court. Since Giles had already been in court so many times he felt that he knew how the court system worked. Danforth calls him a “proper lawyer”, which is his way of making fun of Giles Cory.

Examples The second quote is on Pg. 217, Act 3 Parris: “Why would there not have been poppets hid where no one ever saw them?” Parris and Danforth went around house to house to see if people were hiding poppets. In this quote they are making fun of the people, because the people hid the poppets where they could be found and they are trying to say why wouldn’t you try to hid the poppets where they wont be found.

Citations “stupid.” November 5, online image. Jazzroc.wordpress. February 17, “The appeal to ridicule.” August 9, online image. Daralnnicosia.wordpress. February 17,