Logical Fallacies collection
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Sean
Mar 31, 2008, 9:54:44 PM3/31/08
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After beginning to read "The logical fallacies of Mr. Limbaugh" or
something, Dr. Payne and I thought it would be nice to start a thread
where everyone can post their favorite logical fallacies. So here it
comes.
something, Dr. Payne and I thought it would be nice to start a thread
where everyone can post their favorite logical fallacies. So here it
comes.
Michelle
Apr 4, 2008, 8:21:43 PM4/4/08
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"seeing is believing".
Michelle
Apr 7, 2008, 1:22:41 AM4/7/08
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from a recent debate...
so and so is a 17 year old boy who seems much more socially conscious
than many of his peers. He is actively involved in promoting peace
and humanity among people, cultures, nations, etc.
OH, but wait! We just found out that in his spare time, he enjoys
watching cartoons and playing Pokemon. Therefore, he must be immature
and his apparent concern for social causes must be due solely to
pressure from his parents to be involved with them. He just can't be
socially conscious like that and also enjoy some of the activities
that peers of his tend to enjoy. CLEARLY<insert sarcasm>, the two are
mutually exclusive and his apparent concern for peace among his fellow
human beings is a charade.
GMAB(Give me a break).
> > comes.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
so and so is a 17 year old boy who seems much more socially conscious
than many of his peers. He is actively involved in promoting peace
and humanity among people, cultures, nations, etc.
OH, but wait! We just found out that in his spare time, he enjoys
watching cartoons and playing Pokemon. Therefore, he must be immature
and his apparent concern for social causes must be due solely to
pressure from his parents to be involved with them. He just can't be
socially conscious like that and also enjoy some of the activities
that peers of his tend to enjoy. CLEARLY<insert sarcasm>, the two are
mutually exclusive and his apparent concern for peace among his fellow
human beings is a charade.
GMAB(Give me a break).
>
> - Show quoted text -
Michelle
Apr 7, 2008, 3:18:35 PM4/7/08
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Then there's one I am calling "divert and deny". I have had two
delightful experiences with this one of late.
First, I had a housekeeper come to my house and help me pick things
up; garbage in this bag, recycling in this bag, books and dvds and
other valuables on the couch. After she left I found books and dvds in
the garbage and now I have to go through the bags myself to avoid
throwing away valuables. I wrote a complaint to the better business
bureau and the business wrote back with this whole spiel about how my
house was infested with flies and I had said an exterminator was
coming the next day and then made up a story about my house being full
of fleas(totally untrue) and had she known, the woman never would have
sent the housekeeper in the first place.
Umm...bugs in the house have no connection to valuable items being
thrown away. So I wrote back pointing out the diversion tactic being
used and how it had no connection to the problem and I got all of my
money back along with a letter of apology.
Another example:
I planned a get together for the Model United Nations class because I
am the Secretary in the class and it has been suggested by the teacher
that we need to do some bonding to be a strong delegation. We were to
meet at Gameworks in Seattle at 4PM on a Saturday. I called people
and got seven confirmations of people who were going and were very
excited about it. I sent out reminders. Only two people ended up
going, and our Head Delegate ended up sitting there by himself for an
hour and a half because the other person could not find him and no one
else bothered to call or let either of us know they would not be
going.
So we get into class and start talking about planning another get
together after our Head Delegate sent out a pretty angry email to
those who didn't go and didn't bother to call. In the course of the
discussion, divert and deny came up as it was mentioned that this part
of Seattle was so crowded that it would have been hard to find each
other and the failure of the event was blamed on that. In the end,
even though only two people bothered to attempt to go, it all became
my fault for choosing such a crowded location. I will take that into
account in the future, but it has nothing to do with the fact that
only 2 of the 7 tried to go, none of the others called to say they
couldn't make it, and everyone who was supposed to go was really
excited about it and never suggested this possible problem to me even
though they made it seem in class discussion like it was completely
obvious to anyone with half a brain. I'm still a little peeved about
this one because I have been working extremely hard for these people.
Divert and deny. Watch out for it so you can defend yourself.
> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
delightful experiences with this one of late.
First, I had a housekeeper come to my house and help me pick things
up; garbage in this bag, recycling in this bag, books and dvds and
other valuables on the couch. After she left I found books and dvds in
the garbage and now I have to go through the bags myself to avoid
throwing away valuables. I wrote a complaint to the better business
bureau and the business wrote back with this whole spiel about how my
house was infested with flies and I had said an exterminator was
coming the next day and then made up a story about my house being full
of fleas(totally untrue) and had she known, the woman never would have
sent the housekeeper in the first place.
Umm...bugs in the house have no connection to valuable items being
thrown away. So I wrote back pointing out the diversion tactic being
used and how it had no connection to the problem and I got all of my
money back along with a letter of apology.
Another example:
I planned a get together for the Model United Nations class because I
am the Secretary in the class and it has been suggested by the teacher
that we need to do some bonding to be a strong delegation. We were to
meet at Gameworks in Seattle at 4PM on a Saturday. I called people
and got seven confirmations of people who were going and were very
excited about it. I sent out reminders. Only two people ended up
going, and our Head Delegate ended up sitting there by himself for an
hour and a half because the other person could not find him and no one
else bothered to call or let either of us know they would not be
going.
So we get into class and start talking about planning another get
together after our Head Delegate sent out a pretty angry email to
those who didn't go and didn't bother to call. In the course of the
discussion, divert and deny came up as it was mentioned that this part
of Seattle was so crowded that it would have been hard to find each
other and the failure of the event was blamed on that. In the end,
even though only two people bothered to attempt to go, it all became
my fault for choosing such a crowded location. I will take that into
account in the future, but it has nothing to do with the fact that
only 2 of the 7 tried to go, none of the others called to say they
couldn't make it, and everyone who was supposed to go was really
excited about it and never suggested this possible problem to me even
though they made it seem in class discussion like it was completely
obvious to anyone with half a brain. I'm still a little peeved about
this one because I have been working extremely hard for these people.
Divert and deny. Watch out for it so you can defend yourself.
Sean
Apr 8, 2008, 11:23:40 PM4/8/08
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Wow... Hardcore red herring.
Next meeting spot: Top of Mount Everest.
Next meeting spot: Top of Mount Everest.
Michelle
Apr 10, 2008, 1:52:17 AM4/10/08
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Yeah, I really enjoyed the second situation.
LOL I'll bring the marshmallows for the s'mores. I have a condo atop
Everest, and you're all invited. Oh, but wait--going back to fallacy
#2, it seems that having more than one side to one's personality is
not possible. Therefore it has been determined by this perfect logic
that my existence is not possible. In ten seconds, you will hear a
POOF as I cease to exist. I am a violation of a universal law. I must
be destroyed. You'll have to eat the s'mores without me.
LOL I'll bring the marshmallows for the s'mores. I have a condo atop
Everest, and you're all invited. Oh, but wait--going back to fallacy
#2, it seems that having more than one side to one's personality is
not possible. Therefore it has been determined by this perfect logic
that my existence is not possible. In ten seconds, you will hear a
POOF as I cease to exist. I am a violation of a universal law. I must
be destroyed. You'll have to eat the s'mores without me.
Sean
Apr 11, 2008, 5:28:26 PM4/11/08
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Wait...
"But what if you eat the s'mores before you snap out of existence? Do
the s'mores exist? at what point does the consumed s'mores become
you?"
- Master Sean, Meditation on a High-Powered Apple Laptop (A book that
I'm planning to write in 15 years which is a parody on that book I
read... whatever the heck that was.)
"But what if you eat the s'mores before you snap out of existence? Do
the s'mores exist? at what point does the consumed s'mores become
you?"
- Master Sean, Meditation on a High-Powered Apple Laptop (A book that
I'm planning to write in 15 years which is a parody on that book I
read... whatever the heck that was.)
Michelle
May 7, 2008, 12:07:41 AM5/7/08
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LOL Well, is it my perception of the s'mores that makes them exist?
Because then if I snap out of existence, I think they exist for a
moment because I exist and I perceive them every chance I get because
I love s'mores, but then once I cease to exist they cease to exist and
no one can ever eat s'mores again unless they decide to perceive
s'mores again at which point the s'mores exist again, at least for a
moment until that person eats them and then it all depends on whether
or not that person continues to exist, and from there the s'mores will
either cease to exist again(cease to exist *again*??) or they will
still exist in a modified form until they get absorbed back into
nature at which point we will have to debate the definition and nature
of existence which I won't be able to do because I will no longer
exist.
Okay, this is officially my favorite post to the philosophy club
blog. And this is also my mind NOT on drugs. Yikes.
On a more serious note, I hope you do write some book some day. I
would definitely read it!
Because then if I snap out of existence, I think they exist for a
moment because I exist and I perceive them every chance I get because
I love s'mores, but then once I cease to exist they cease to exist and
no one can ever eat s'mores again unless they decide to perceive
s'mores again at which point the s'mores exist again, at least for a
moment until that person eats them and then it all depends on whether
or not that person continues to exist, and from there the s'mores will
either cease to exist again(cease to exist *again*??) or they will
still exist in a modified form until they get absorbed back into
nature at which point we will have to debate the definition and nature
of existence which I won't be able to do because I will no longer
exist.
Okay, this is officially my favorite post to the philosophy club
blog. And this is also my mind NOT on drugs. Yikes.
On a more serious note, I hope you do write some book some day. I
would definitely read it!
Sean
May 9, 2008, 1:31:12 AM5/9/08
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Ah. Does being observed alter the thing? Is "observed" a property of
an object? Evil questions. Let's ask Russ.
But then... maybe they don't exist to you, but that doesn't mean they
don't exist. A lot of things don't exist to us because we don't know
it, yet they do in fact exist (because at least some people know about
them and those things exist to them)
an object? Evil questions. Let's ask Russ.
But then... maybe they don't exist to you, but that doesn't mean they
don't exist. A lot of things don't exist to us because we don't know
it, yet they do in fact exist (because at least some people know about
them and those things exist to them)
Michelle
May 9, 2008, 3:28:16 AM5/9/08
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Now we're getting into some of the fun questions that quantum theory
deals with, especially when philosophers get ahold of it but also in
some observations. They definitely are evil. Let's ask Russ. He has
nothing better to do. Wait-does h still exist? Last time I checked, it
seemed as though he did, but I haven't checked lately, and I've been
really focused on the s'mores. Very little time left before I cease to
exist. I wish I could at least take the marshmallows with me when I
cease to exist and then at least I'll have something to be nonexistent
with, but if it's there and I'm there then I guess I do still exist,
and we're running into the original problem that got me into this
predicament in the first place, which was this certain person making
the claim that one cannot possibly exist who has sides to his/her
personality that this person decided were in conflict with each
other. It reminds me of the stupidest argument I ever had, which was
with my dad(another fallacy I wanted to mention). We were watching a
news story about Cirque du Soleil, which I had seen a few years
earlier with my mom, and I made the apparent mistake of saying that I
had enjoyed it but probably would not go again. My dad insisted that
it was impossible for me to like something and yet not want to see it
again, even though he spent his whole life loving certain movies but
refusing to ever watch one more than once. The argument went on for
half an hour, and was basically as ridiculous as the whole s'mores
conversation we are having fun with now(only a lot less fun) and even
more ridiculous (to me) than the fallacious argument that led to the
whole s'mores thing in the first place.
I'll at least leave you with some advice to maybe help you.
Step one: Watch the first part of the Matrix trilogy five times in a
row without stopping.
Step two: Blindfold yourself, turn around in a circle ten times, and
remove the blindfold.
Step three: Hitch hike to San Francisco and find either the blue pill
or the red pill, whichever you choose. Please bring me back some
Ghiradelli chocolate for my s'mores.
How will this help? Damned if I know, but it would make for a very
entertaining book, and I would have some awesome chocolate to make my
s'mores with before they and I cease to exist. If they or I exist to
begin with. Hmm.
I need to go call my shrink now. I'm sure he'll appreciate being
paged at 12:30 AM.
deals with, especially when philosophers get ahold of it but also in
some observations. They definitely are evil. Let's ask Russ. He has
nothing better to do. Wait-does h still exist? Last time I checked, it
seemed as though he did, but I haven't checked lately, and I've been
really focused on the s'mores. Very little time left before I cease to
exist. I wish I could at least take the marshmallows with me when I
cease to exist and then at least I'll have something to be nonexistent
with, but if it's there and I'm there then I guess I do still exist,
and we're running into the original problem that got me into this
predicament in the first place, which was this certain person making
the claim that one cannot possibly exist who has sides to his/her
personality that this person decided were in conflict with each
other. It reminds me of the stupidest argument I ever had, which was
with my dad(another fallacy I wanted to mention). We were watching a
news story about Cirque du Soleil, which I had seen a few years
earlier with my mom, and I made the apparent mistake of saying that I
had enjoyed it but probably would not go again. My dad insisted that
it was impossible for me to like something and yet not want to see it
again, even though he spent his whole life loving certain movies but
refusing to ever watch one more than once. The argument went on for
half an hour, and was basically as ridiculous as the whole s'mores
conversation we are having fun with now(only a lot less fun) and even
more ridiculous (to me) than the fallacious argument that led to the
whole s'mores thing in the first place.
I'll at least leave you with some advice to maybe help you.
Step one: Watch the first part of the Matrix trilogy five times in a
row without stopping.
Step two: Blindfold yourself, turn around in a circle ten times, and
remove the blindfold.
Step three: Hitch hike to San Francisco and find either the blue pill
or the red pill, whichever you choose. Please bring me back some
Ghiradelli chocolate for my s'mores.
How will this help? Damned if I know, but it would make for a very
entertaining book, and I would have some awesome chocolate to make my
s'mores with before they and I cease to exist. If they or I exist to
begin with. Hmm.
I need to go call my shrink now. I'm sure he'll appreciate being
paged at 12:30 AM.
Michelle
May 11, 2008, 3:35:19 AM5/11/08
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Okay, I'm just going to add it to the official collection of
fallacies: If you believe in evolution, then you cannot believe in
God. And in some religious traditions, I guess you are a heretic if
you believe in both, because that just cannot be possible unless you
choose to defy the holy word of God as it is written in your Bible!!!
> ...
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -
fallacies: If you believe in evolution, then you cannot believe in
God. And in some religious traditions, I guess you are a heretic if
you believe in both, because that just cannot be possible unless you
choose to defy the holy word of God as it is written in your Bible!!!
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -
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