1. (These are my “ironic-background” PowerPoint slides.)
Fallacies, Pt. 1
(These are my “ironic-background” PowerPoint slides.)

2. Fallacy: Definition, Division
A fallacy, generally speaking, is any mistake in reasoning.
The focus for now is on fallacies that involve irrelevant premises.

3. Appeals to Emotion 1/15 Argument from Outrage:
(said angrily) The [so-and-so’s] say that p!
(implied conclusion) [Therefore, p is false.]
Appeal to Emotion not necessarily fallacious. But generally fallacious to rely on emotion instead of rational appeal (pathos vs. logos).

4. Appeals to Emotion 2/15
The Argument from Outrage presents two distinct dangers.
First: Do we really have a reason to be angry?
Second: Is my anger over X affecting my judgment about p?

5. Appeals to Emotion 3/15 Do we really have a reason to be angry?
Maybe Mr. X merely disagrees with me!
Is my anger over X affecting my judgment about p?
Is the fact that this guy behaves badly toward me affecting my reaction to his views?

6. Appeals to Emotion 4/15
N.B. Sometimes anger is appropriate! Saying something that angers someone is not a fallacy!

7. Appeals to Emotion 5/15
Special case of the Argument from Outrage: Scapegoating
Blaming someone or some group for one’s problems
Example: Suppose Mr. Sanchez gets a job for which I was also being considered. I might easily slide to: Mexicans are taking all the U.S. jobs! Or even to: We ought to send them all back to Mexico!

8. Appeals to Emotion 6/15 Scare Tactics:
Scaring someone into doing something, esp. accepting some claim

9. Appeals to Emotion 7/15
Special Case of Scare Tactics: Argument by Force
Threatening someone into accepting some claim
It is a fallacy to accept such “arguments”, though it may be prudent to do so--or to fake it.

10. Appeals to Emotion 8/15 Scare Tactics cont.
Fear can arise esp. over possible consequences of some action, even when there is no evidence that those consequences are likely.
Example: If we do not invade Iran, the Iranians will develop nuclear weapons and use them to destroy the world.

11. Appeals to Emotion 9/15
Again, fear is sometimes appropriate! Saying something that frightens someone is not a fallacy!

12. Appeals to Emotion 10/15 Argument from Pity:
Overestimating someone’s strengths because of pitying that person
Example: Ms. Y has lived through war, has had close relatives die and barely has enough money to feed her children. Therefore, Ms. Y ought to win the scholarship we are offering.
Being an instructor, I’ve encountered this argument a few times!

13. Appeals to Emotion 11/15 Argument from Envy:
Overestimating someone’s weaknesses because of envying that person
Example: Mr. F has no talents of his own. He has earned most of his money through his ex-wife.

14. Appeals to Emotion 12/15 Apple Polishing:
Mistaking flattery for evidence for what the flatterers say

15. Appeals to Emotion 13/15 Guilt Trip
Eliciting feelings of guilt in someone in order to get that person to do something (esp. to accept some claim).
Example: Many Iraqi children are in mortal danger because of our actions. Therefore, we ought all to send them financial aid.

16. Appeals to Emotion 14/15 Wishful Thinking:
Believing something because it would be a pleasant truth OR
Disbelieving something because it would be an unpleasant truth

17. Appeals to Emotion 15/15
Others:
Peer Pressure
Groupthink
Nationalism

18. Non-Emotional Fallacies 1/11
Red Herring:
Introducing extraneous considerations in order to distract one’s opponent from the real issue
Very common! Beware!

19. Non-Emotional Fallacies 2/11
Red Herrings can be found in debates on nearly every major issue of today.

20. Non-Emotional Fallacies 3/11
Gay Marriage:
“Do you think gays should be permitted to marry?”
“What people do in their bedrooms is not the State’s business!”

21. Non-Emotional Fallacies 4/11
Public Healthcare:
“Should the State provide money for health services?”
“That’s what the communists want!”

22. Non-Emotional Fallacies 5/11
Gun Control:
“Should it be more difficult to purchase guns legally?”
“Yes! Look at how much gang violence there is in this country!”

23. Non-Emotional Fallacies 6/11
Legalization of Drugs:
“Should smoking marijuana be made legal?”
“No! Marijuana can be very harmful to growing children!”

24. Non-Emotional Fallacies 7/11
Abortion:
“Should the abortion of fetuses remain legal in this country?”
“Abortion is the taking of a human life!”

25. Non-Emotional Fallacies 8/11
Appeal to Popularity:
Mistaking the popularity of a belief for evidence of its truth
Not fallacious when those to whom the appeal is made are experts!
Two important subkinds:
Appeal to Common Practice
Appeal to Tradition

26. Non-Emotional Fallacies 9/11
Appeal to Common Practice:
Mistaking the popularity of a practice for justification of it
Examples:
Speeding
Cigarette Butts/Littering

27. Non-Emotional Fallacies 10/11
Appeal to Tradition:
Mistaking the long pedigree of a practice for justification of it

28. Non-Emotional Fallacies 11/11
Two Wrongs Make a Right:
Distinguish from the Philosophical Position of Retributivism!