1. Chapter 12 Errors of Reaction
*Errors of reaction: occur after we have expressed our ideas and others have criticized/challenged them
**we become annoyed at the suggestion that we may have made a mistake in reasoning
**become more concerned with defending our thoughts than searching for the truth
**rather than asking “did I error”, we ask “how can I explain this challenge away?”
*”Saving Face”:This need to explain away challenges to our reasoning that do not flatter us satisfies are innate need of preserving our self image.
Errors of Reaction
-automatic rejection
-changing the subject
-shifting the burden of proof
-straw man
-attacking the critic

2. Automatic Rejection
*Automatic Rejection: The refusal to give criticism of your ideas (or behaviors) a fair hearing.
-not willing to consider the challenge, it’s evidence, it’s quality
*To avoid this error:
-put some distance between YOU and your ideas
-think of your ideas as possessions that you can keep or discard, rather than an extension of you (your intellect, self worth, etc.)

3. Changing the Subject
Changing the subject (red herring): Abruptly and deceptively turning a discussion away from the issue under discussion
-not always an error, sometimes it’s an appropriate way to handle an unpleasant situation that looks like it’s getting ugly
EX: people constantly ask me “when are you going to have kids?”…..changing the subject is better than me responding
-it’s an error when the change is NOT appropriate and is used to manipulate or deceive your focus
**politicians are great at this!
EX: video-Katie “what specific newspapers do u read?” Palin: “Alaska is like a microcosm of the world”
-changing the subject “frustrates” the purpose of the discussion…wastes time…easily escalates situations into nonsense
*To avoid this error:
-face difficult questions head-on rather than trying to avoid them

4. Shifting the Burden of Proof
Shifting the Burden of Proof: Demanding that others disprove our assertions
**if you make the point then you are responsible for providing support for it
*To avoid this error:
-understand that the burden of supporting any assertion rests with the person who makes it
-not the person who challenges it
-accept the responsibility of supporting your assertions

5. Straw Man
*Straw Man: to put false words in someone else’s mouth and then expose their falsity, conveniently forgetting that the other person never said them
-put words in people’s mouth when we misinterpret someone’s words, tone, meaning
-when we are unable to argue against their ACTUAL point
-when we have selective perception
*To avoid this error:
-be accurate when quoting or paraphrasing other people

6. Attacking the Critic
*Attacking the critic: attempting to discredit an idea or argument by disparaging the person who expressed it.
-don’t like being challenged? Create a diversion!
-diversion is calling out either a real or imagined fault (or motive) of the person challenging you OR
-Regardless, of how interesting it is to judge a person’s character, motives, etc….it tells us nothing about their idea
**ideas and people are not synonymous SO it is unreasonable to substitute judgments of a person for judgments of their ideas
To avoid this error:
-focus your critical thinking on ideas rather than on people who express them.

7. The Errors in Combination
Chapter 13
The Errors in Combination

8. The Errors in Combination

9. The Errors in Combination

10. The Errors in Combination