In philosophical argumentation, it is important to recognize logic fallacies and avoid using them. Think of those fallacies in your textbook and/or discussed in class and find current examples (3 minimum) of their use on the web or in popular print publications. Be sure to identify each fallacy and explain why it is a fallacy.
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Philosophy 101 D’Onna Cooper
Jan. 31, 2011
Examples of Fallacies
My examples of fallacies came from three articles I read in the Arizona Republic dated January 23, 2011.
The first article spoke on the use of luggage carts declining and how the airport the airport is losing money on keeping them. The article spoke of the amount of revenue lost and how much it would cost to sign new contracts with outside companies to maintain the service. However they mentioned the title of someone they interview as being a representative of the Boy Scouts of America – which is a ad Verecundiam fallacy due to the fact that the boys scouts would not have the expert knowledge on the luggage cart business.
The second Article spoke on the Mayor of Surprise, Arizona filing for bankruptcy on a $464,000 debt. In the article the mayor, who is a real estate broker, begging the question by stating “he doesn’t think the voters will fault him for having money woes” and “ I am a regular person effected by this economy like everyone else”
The third article states that the former Republic reporter was named Brewer’s spokesman, was an article full of jokes, which were distractions as well as ad hominem arguments. The article called various political figures by outrageous nick names like Sarah Palin as ”Mama Grizzly” and Debbie Lesko as “Madame Whip”.
Trent Aldridge PHI 101
http://tobefree.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/ron-paul-why-do-they-want-to-kill-us-because-we-occupy-their-land/
Is a link to a video of Ron Paul addressing the issue of terrorist attacks, the Taliban, and solutions to stop these confrontations. In the video he makes clear statements and has some good points but at one point he states asking in general if they attack us because of their religion or if they attack us because we are rich or have freedoms then states they do it because we occupy their territory. To me if I understand correctly it falls under the category of mere assertion. It seems that he has forgotten that we have settlements, i.e. army and air force bases, in other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Japan and are not attacked like he states being the reason in his address. I do not see good evidence for his argument.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm9mq3ORpX4
This is a video that has some professed Christians explaining how wrong gay marriage is and that it will be bring destruction on them. During their comments they mention they want to help the gays. I believe it falls under the fallacy of begging the question. They seem to think that the gays are suppose to understand the Christian view and the form of god that they worship. So the refer to the bible and say that God doesn’t want to see them destroyed which is their own opinion.
http://www.gopetition.com/msg.php?msgid=196819
Is a post and I wanted to comment on the post third from the top. The person claims that immigrants should be shot because they are terrorists and are destroying our country. He then finishes with the comment that they have smelly bodies. Which to me I believe it falls under the fallacy of ad hominem. He just attacks the way they smell which has nothing to do with his argument.
PHI 101- Tareney Frank
Examples of Fallacies
The first fallacy I found was obtained from Fox 10 News on Jan. 31, 2011 and is an Ad Verecundiam example. Mayor Bloomberg of New York made a video recording of a man buying a gun without a background check at a recent Arizona Gun Show. The mayor said he had this video recorded because he wanted to show the government that the current gun laws are too loose in Arizona. The fallacy is that Mayor Bloomberg doesn't have the expertise to make decisions without a proper investigation especially while the ATF found no foul play on the gun seller’s part.
The second fallacy I found while reading the Arizona Republic on Jan. 30, 2011. This fallacy is an example of Ad Hominem. A Peoria man from Iraq runs over and kills his daughter because he feels she has become too "Westernized" and is drifting from the traditional beliefs which he believes is a horrible sin. The fallacy is defined as against the man because this father truly believes he has the divine right to rid the world of his daughter because he feels she has committed the ultimate crime against his god and his humanity.
The third fallacy I obtained from listening to my fiancé talk with her friends on Jan. 29, 2011. I didn't pay my photo radar tickets because no one can prove I received the citation in the mail and unless someone comes and personally serves me with the ticket I am going to ignore it like everyone else does. They charge way too much anyway and it is all a scam.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/02/obama-approach-mubarak-exit-questioned-violent-clashes-erupt/
The link above is an article discussing President Obama’s address to the uprising in the Middle East. One of the biggest fallacies in the article was Ad Verecundiam. Senator McCain’s opinion was stated so much in the article that it made it sound as if he was “assisting” the President with his decisions on how to address the revolts in the Arab countries.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41273506/ns/today-entertainment/
This is an article about Bristol Palin getting a job at a local radio station. The whole point of the article stated that the only reason why she is known is because of her mother’s political role. Why would a radio station hire a person who doesn’t have any experience in the field? This is an example of Ad Verecundiam because of her publicity; Bristol Palin is now going to have a job talking to the public without any formal knowledge of the career path. This little girl has been knocked up, on “Dancing With the Stars” and only in the media because of her actions, what makes the higher ups at the radio station think she has the “qualities” to be on the radio?
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/video/whoopi-goldberg-smoking-ban-im-smoking-cigarette-12832434
The link is to a clip from the show The View. On this particular episode, Whoopi is talking about New York's ban against smoking in areas such as beaches, Time Square, or any other outdoor location which is considered a widely used public area. Whoopi is discussing it from a smokers point of view and how it is becoming harder and harder to smoke cigarettes and the inconveniences smokers have to endure; i.e. rain, heat, pollution, etc. Smokers have to leave the comfort of the buildings to smoke outside, in New York some residential buildings are considered smoke free. As soon as Joy chimes in with her opinion, it is no longer about the inconveniences for the smoker but moves toward the health issue and inconveniences of being around tobacco user; this is a case of Ad Hominem. The comment that ended Whoopi’s argument was when Joy said (not word for word) that she doesn’t like it around her family. I believe that once a person addresses the fact that it becomes a nuisance for families, smokers lose any foothold in the argument they might have had. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that it is a personal choice to smoke cigarettes or not, but if there are going to be limitations on smoking there has to boundaries that those who choose to smoke can follow and not be inconvenienced.
posted for Yoseline Castillo
One of my examples of fallacies came from an article that dates back in February of 2009. Lou Dobbs mentions on his show, Lou Dobbs Tonight, how the House-passed a recovery bill. According to Dobbs he states that "there's more than $4 billion for so-called neighbor …$4 billion, which translates into funding for so-called advocacy groups such as ACORN -- ACORN, the left-wing advocacy group. That organization and its voter-registration drives are under investigation in more than a dozen states." However according to the bill (http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/neighborhoodspg/) it does not mention ACORN or otherwise single it out for funding. ACORN’s CEO, Bertha Lewis, claims that they are unable to receive funds and has no plans to apply for them. This would be an example Ad Verecundiam as it seems Mr. Dobbs doesn’t have much expertise on the bill and it seems he’s biased against left-wing organizations.
The second fallacy I found is a video as well as an article on the same man I mentioned above, Lou Dobbs.
In the following video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cp3jg_V3o9I#) it is clear Mr. Dobbs has been having a hard-line position on undocumented immigrants and anyone who employees them. However according a different article ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/07/lou-dobbs-hired-illegal-immigrants_n_753799.html) it turns out Mr. Dobbs has been hiring illegal immigrants for years. Some of them tended in the care of his home and took care of his daughter’s horses.
The third fallacy I found, although unrelated to Lou Dobbs, has to do with NATURAL American Spirit Cigarettes.
(https://www.nascigs.com/Login/tabid/157/Default.aspx?returnurl=%2fdefault.aspx)
Notice that they use the slogan "natural" and claims that its cigarettes are "100% natural tobacco". This may draw in smokers to buy their product because they believe that "natural" tobacco is in some way healthier than tobacco that include additives. Even though the carcinogens in cigarettes that cause cancer are natural components of tobacco.
Katherine D. Philosiphy 101-
My first fallacy comes from an article on the famous painting “Mona Lisa” by Di Vinci. They have been trying to discover who “Mona Lisa” actually was and a new theory suggests a whole different person who was possibly Di Vinci’s lover. This fallacy is “Attacking a Straw Man” because these new theories are being thrown at Di Vinci who (obviously) can’t explain or defend himself. http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/94265 new theory on mona lisa by mike krumboltz.
My second fallacy comes from a man on http://www.thesealfishery.com/. He speaks much about clubbing seals and puts up many arguments one in which he said to a woman “Wow! Do us all a favour, please don’t reproduce and ask your relatives to do the same so we can end whatever genetic mess you were spawned from.” That is “Name Calling”. http://www.thesealfishery.com/hateView.php?id=11790&page=12&subPage=1
My last fallacy is about 9/11 and that the U.S. was at a higher risk for terrorist attack. New laws were set in place and that it had to be done. This is the slippery slope fallacy. Saying if one thing happened, then something else will inevitably. (when it might not). It explains how we used the 9/11 attack as an excuse for an urgent invasion on Iraq. http://www.mediahell.org/terrorincrease.htm
Philosophy 101 Takiyah Ross
Feb 3 2011
Examples of Fallacies
1st example of fallacies is from AZ Republic on Feb. 3 2011. Inmates are complaining that it is too cold for them to be outside. The sheriff's response was that he is providing more blanket for the inmates. He also stated what's the problem with them being in the cold and that his officers have to be in the cold so basically stop complaining. The fallacie is how does the sheriff know if his officers are complaining or not?
Also from AZ Republic on same day Sara Palin responds to president Obama's State of the Union Speech calling it "half baked" and also stating he's sending this country down hill like a "bullet train to bankruptcy". The fallacie in this article is Sara Palin is not a financial expert and cant predict the future in order to know if his plans are working.
Examples of Fallacies:
Fahrenheit 9-11 the Movie-
This whole movie is an example of a circumstantial ad hominem. Throughout the entire film Michael More is attacking George W. Bush, and his intentions of going to war. Mr. Mores’ argument is mainly based on Bush’s Family and background and shows that this influences his judgment due to self interest . A prime example is when he connects Bush’s family with Sade –Arabia. He then infers that because of this Business connection that Bush’s primary goal for the war in Iraq was for profit off of oil. I also believe this movie is an example of a biased sample fallacy because it is completely one sided. When Michael More does touch base on the other side of the issue it is purely sarcastic. In summary I believe there is at least two forms of fallacies representing this movie which are the Circumstantial ad hominem fallacy and biased sample fallacy.
A quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger, predicting unrest in San Francisco if they continued to allow gay marriage. “All of a sudden we see riots , we see protests ,we see people clashing . The next thing you Know , there is injured or there is dead people”. -
This particular Quote is an example of a division fallacy. I must argue that Mr. Swarzenegger is comparing unfairly .In this statement he is concluding that were there is conflict argument or protest there in turn must be violence or death. I believe this to be false. We have formed a whole country on the basis of argument Called the United States of America. In this country that is unlike any other we form laws and regulations on different views an ideas from senators that U.S. Citizens elect. These senators argue on the senate floor to pass these laws and form a better country. Although this is not a perfect country and their will always be some crazy out there spreading violence. I have yet to see in my lifetime a fist fight on the senate floor. I believe since people clashing, protesting and arguing over a subject doesn’t always lead to violence proves that what Mr. Swarzeneggers assumption proves to be a fallacy.
Glenn Beck Breaks down the President’s State of The Union Address –
This “break down” of President Obama’s speech is an example of a reductive fallacy. On Glenn’s show he over simplifies. He uses the difference in fish sticks and cookies to compare with the difference between Ronal Regan, and Woodrow Wilsons policies and views. His logic is that since fish and cookies don’t go together neither can the two different views.
Joel S. Goble
Posted for Nathalie Gomez
Today I read an article that about Joe Francis and the legal issues that he is having this article has a fallacies of hominem because the whole point of the article is trying to demonstrate the kind of charges being held against this person for cheating out of paying the casino what he owed for gambling he did at the Wynn Casino. Mr. Francis stated that Steve Wynn is not a man of his word because he did accept and IOU for the amount he owed, which makes this a hominem fallacy because talking about what kind a person Steve Wynn has nothing to do with the point of the article that he’s being charged for theft and passing a check without sufficient funds. (this was found in azcentral.com)
Joseph Ni
1. Elizabeth Warren in her Democratic Convention Speech attacks Wall Street saying "...the same ones who recked our economy destroying millions of jobs still strut around congress no shame, demanding favors and acting like we should thank them". This is ad hominem because she directly attacks and gives no solution. (YouTube; Elizabeth Warren DNC Speech)
2. The Republicans attacking the Democratic party platform because it had no references to God nor to Jerusalam as the capital of Israel. This fallcy could be labeled as many, ad hominem, appeal to faith, appeal to tradition, argumentum ad baculum, etc... The Republicans are reaching way far for straws in the wrong direction to win (The Christian Science Monitor, http:/m.csmonitor.com, Article:Democratic Convention platform debacle, how much will it matter? BY Liz Marlantes)
3. GOP ad "The Break up". This ad depicts a woman breaking up with a coard board image of President Barak Obama. I beleive this to be argumentum ad populum. This ad has no evidential facts in it, and its appealling tosentimental weakness by using a women in a effort to say women voters should leave the Democratic party, but none of the evidence given shows reason for targeting women. (The Washington Post, http://m.washingtonpost. Article: 'Breaking up with Barak Obama, BY Melinda Henneberger)
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