fallacy lecture slippery slope, ad hominem, hasty generalization

Slippery slopeAd hominemHasty Generalization

Dr. Lynn MeadeAdvanced Public Speaking

University of Arkansas

So What’s the Deal Here?

I want you to learn to identify and avoid using speech fallacies so I created a series of training modules for you to work through. Each folder contains 3-4 fallacies, definitions, and examples. After working through the training Power Point, you should take the quiz. It is my goal that you will be a great fallacy detector after going through this training. So, let’s get started !

What is a Fallacy?

A fallacy is an error in reasoning. It is a weak argument. In specific terms, it is an argument in which the premises given for the conclusion do not provide the needed degree of support.

So What Who Cares?

Fallacies keep us from having good discussions of the issues at hand.

They distract us from the real issue.They “trick” us into faulty reasoning.They deceive us into bad conclusions.

Slippery Slope:

One bad thing will result in many other

bad things

Slippery Slope:

This fallacy assumes that one bad thing will result in many other bad

things.The speaker never proves a real

connection to the next step.

Rebecca Kleefisch, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in Wisconsin on gay marriage

"At what point are we going to OK marrying inanimate objects? Can I marry this table, or this, you know, clock? Can we marry dogs?"

Slippery Slope

Consider the following examples of the slippery slope fallacy.

"We have to stop the tuition increase! The next thing you

know, they'll be charging $40,000 a semester!"

Slippery Slope

Front.moveon.org

Slippery Slope

Democratic leaders say their legislation will grow the economy. What it will do is grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt.

Who amongst us would ask our children for a loan so we could spend money we do not have on things we do -- we do not need?

Governor Jindal’s GOP response to Obama speech

Our next fallacy is the Ad Hominem

Ad hominem means “to the man” Instead of attacking the argument,

the speaker attacks the person.

There are four main types of Ad hominem attack…

1. Abusive—direct attack of a person2. Circumstantial—the person is “guilty by

association”3. Tu quoque—(You too) --The person

doesn’t “practice what they preach.” It is calling the person a hypocrite.

4. Poisoning the well—Pre-emptive strike. Saying things to make others doubt a person’s credibility.

Let’s look at them one at a time…

Consider this photo that is circulating the internet. (original author unknown)

Instead of talking about the issue, “evolution”, the other duck comes back with a personal attack. That makes this an ad hominem abusive fallacy.

Let’s look at an example of an Ad Hominem Circumstantial.

"You can't possibly accept the findings of that study on smoking--it was paid

for by the tobacco industry."

Let’s look at an example of an Ad Hominem Circumstantial.

"You can't possibly accept the findings of that study on smoking--it was paid

for by the tobacco industry."

Notice that the person is “guilty by association.” Instead of discussing the problems with the findings, the

speaker only attack the circumstances surrounding the study.

Let’s look at real political examples:

A little background on this first...

Sarah Palin, when running for the Vice President of the US, wanted to look like she was tough but also approachable so she said in a speech:

“What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?” (Pause…) “Lipstick.”

Not too long after, Obama said in a speech….

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig.“

Not too long after, Obama said in a speech….

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig.“

Now Obama claims that this was not a reference to Palin but I think we all know better.

This is a personal attack making it an Ad Hominem Abusive

Now it’s Sarah Palin’s turn for the Ad hominem and she says of Obama:

"Our opponent though is someone who sees America, it seems, as

being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would

target their own country.“

Now it’s Sarah Palin’s turn for the Ad hominem and she says of Obama:

"Our opponent though is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect

that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.“

She is attacking the relationship he has with terrorists. She is saying he’s “guilty by

association” making this an Ad Hominem Circumstantial

How about this Ad Hominem Abusive from the second presidential debate between Romney and Obama

Obama says: “Governor Romney's says he's got a five-point plan? Governor Romney doesn't have a five-point plan. He has a one-point plan. And that plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules. That's been his philosophy in the private sector, that's been his philosophy as governor, that's been his philosophy as a presidential candidate.”

How about this Ad Hominem Abusive from the second presidential debate between Romney and Obama

Obama says: “Governor Romney's says he's got a five-point plan? Governor Romney doesn't have a five-point plan. He has a one-point plan. And that plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules. That's been his philosophy in the private sector, that's been his philosophy as governor, that's been his philosophy as a presidential candidate.”

Notice that Obama is making fun of Romney’s plan calling it a “one-point plan” and he also accused Romney of looking out for the rich, “making sure that folks at the top play by a different set of rules.”

Ad-Hominem Tu quoque Example “And you also” ( kwo-kwee)

Al Gore lectures extensively on saving the planet and eliminating greenhouse gas. The USA Today editorial columnist writes: “Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.”

Ad-Hominem Tu quoque Example “And you also” ( kwo-kwee)

Al Gore lectures extensively on saving the planet and eliminating greenhouse gas. The USA Today editorial columnist writes: “Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.”

Notice how this editor accuses Gore of not practicing what he preaches or being a hypocrite. It may be true that Gore is a hypocrite but that doesn’t mean that we still shouldn’t try to help the environment. The true argument get’s lost here.

Poisoning the Well

The name comes from the middle ages where the Jews were blamed for putting rotten meat in the wells thus everything coming out of the well was tainted. Accusers said that the Jews would poison the water causing the plague.

Similarly, if you “poison” the reputation of another then every word out of their mouth is suspect.

Poisoning the well usually comes in conjunction with other fallacies as you’ll see from these examples.

Poisoning the Well

Before you listen to my opponent speak, may I remind you that he

just supported the largest tax break to the rich in the history of

America.

Poisoning the Well

Before you listen to my opponent speak, may I remind you that he just supported the

largest tax break to the rich in the history of America.

Now that the reputation has been “poisoned,” the listeners are suspicious

that all the policies and ideas of this person will support the rich.

In this example, Obama speaks before Romney at the second presidential debate.

Now, Governor Romney will say he's got an all-of-the-above plan, but basically his plan is to let the oil companies write the energypolicies. So he's got the oil and gas part, but he doesn't have the clean energy part.

Notice how Obama “poisons the well” so we think that Romney can’t be trusted. Obama tells us that the oil companies wrote Romney’s plan. This is also an ad hominem circumstantial because he attacks the relationship.

In this example, Obama speaks before Romney at the second presidential debate.

Now, Governor Romney will say he's got an all-of-the-above plan, but basically his plan is to let the oil companies write the energypolicies. So he's got the oil and gas part, but he doesn't have the clean energy part.

Last but not least, we have the hasty generalization fallacy.

In this fallacy, one draws conclusions from insufficient observations.

http://jcroom1.blogspot.com/2012/06/hasty-generalization.html

Hasty generalizations also happen when one uses a small sample to generalize about a group.

It’s a type of stereotyping.

I was almost hit by a car while crossing the street. The car had Texas

plates. All Texas drivers are dangerous.

We just need to flush the toilet in Washington since all politicians are crooks.

We just need to flush the toilet in Washington since all politicians are crooks.

There is faulty reasoning in assuming “all” of a group are something negative.

All doctors are just in it for the money…All fraternity boys are alcoholics…

All Mexicans…All college teachers…

All women…

Hasty Generalization

Last month my mailman was bitten by a Labrador Retriever.

And last week I read in the paper that one attacked two children without provocation.

So it should be obvious that Labs are vicious and should be banned from public areas.

So what’s the big idea?

Using fallacies are bad ways to make a point. Bad arguments cause people to be misled. It is true that sometimes they work, but at what cost?

It is important for you to be able to detect fallacies so that you are not misled. Many of the fallacies occur in politics and you may vote for these people. Learning to identify fallacies helps you to cut through to the real issue.

What’s next…

Review the Slippery slope, ad hominem, and hasty generalization fallacy.

Print the handout and Power point if needed.

Take the quiz.

Go into your world and detect fallacies and avoid using them yourself.

http://www.patrickmckenna.com/radcontent/Uploads/BS-meter.jpg

Consider the following:

You can print this Power Point to use as your notes

AndThere is a handout with the definitions

and examples on Blackboard.

Reference page for the speeches, definitions, and examples is on the class handout