The toupée fallacy is named for a particular example of the informal fallacy that goes something like this: All toupées look fake; I’ve never seen one that I couldn’t tell was fake. Like a lot of fallacies, it’s so painfully obvious when it’s spelled out that you might have a […]
Read MoreGood Arguing: the low-hanging fruit
So I’ve talked in the last few posts about making good arguments by addressing the substance of your opponent’s position rather than attacking irrelevancies. I described the practice of strawmanning, which is constructing an inferior version of the argument you’re trying to demolish because it’s easier, and how that shouldn’t […]
Read MoreGood Arguing: How to steelman (and why it’s hard)
In the last couple of posts I’ve been exploring different ways in which it’s possible to make bad arguments against someone’s position by ignoring the substance of their argument in favor of some distraction from it or distortion of it, even a completely fictional version of it. The tactic of […]
Read MoreDon’t do this either
Okay, so we’ve pretty well covered how not to talk to and about people you disagree with, right? It can be summed up pretty easily by asking yourself the following question: Does this thing I’m writing/saying/drawing/etc. actually address the substance of what the person I’m talking about is saying/writing/drawing/etc.? Or […]
Read MoreCommon Ground
In formal logic, a premise is a plank of an argument. If your premises are true and the form of your argument is valid, then your argument is sound. 1. All men are mortal.2. Socrates is a man.3. Therefore, Socrates is mortal. If you’re trying to persuade someone of your […]
Read MoreInteresting links of the day
Jurors acquit suspect, then give him their jury pay. They say it’s still not enough to make up for what he went through. Womens’ secret thoughts about porn, juxtaposed against photos of retro man candy (not safe for work, needless to say) Top ten airport restaurants in the United States. Could’ve been […]
Read MoreTop 10 Logical Fallacies in Politics
Wonder how he managed to narrow it down to ten…. This is a very good list explanations and examples of fallacies commonly made by politicians. In the world according to Gretchen, all children would learn about logical fallacies in school at a young age and then go home and apply […]
Read More