Posts
10 Common Logical Fallacies
Logical fallacies are statements that have the tendency of appearing rational but are actually flawed.
The most common 10 types of fallacies are:
#1. Ad Hominem: This occurs when an author attacks his opponent instead of his opponent’s argument.
Person A: It is crucial that we facilitate adequate means to prevent degradation that would jeopardize the project.
Person B: You think that just because you use big words makes you sound smart? Shut up you loser; you don’t know what you’re talking about.
#2: Ad Populum: Ad Populum attempts to prove an argument as correct simply because many people believe it to be so.
Example: 80% of people are for the death penalty, therefore, the death penalty is moral.
#3. Appeal to Authority: In this fallacious argument, the author claims his argument is right because someone famous or powerful supports it.
Example: We should change the drinking age because Einstein believed that 18 was the proper drinking age.
#4. Begging the Question: This happens when the author’s premise and conclusion say the same thing.
Example: Fashion magazines don’t hurt women’s self esteem because women’s confidence is intact after reading the magazine.
#5. False Dichotomy: This fallacy rests on the assumption that there are only two possible solutions, so disproving one solution means that other solution should be utilized. It ignores other alternative solutions.
Example: “If you want better public schools, you have to raise taxes. If you don’t want to raise taxes, you can’t have better schools.”
#6. Hasty Generalization: Hasty Generalization occurs when the proponent uses too small of a sample size to support a sweeping generalization.
Example: Sally couldn’t find any cute clothes at the boutique and neither could Maura, so the boutique doesn’t have any cute clothes.
#7. Post Hoc/ False Cause: Thisfallacy assumes that correlation equals causation or, in other words, if one event predicts another event it must have also caused the event.
Example: The football team gets better grades than the baseball team, therefore playing football makes you smarter than playing baseball.
#8. Missing the Point: In Missing the Point, the premise of the argument supports a specific conclusion but not the one the author draws.
Example: Antidepressants are overly prescribed which is dangerous, so they should clearly be made illegal.
#9. Spotlight Fallacy: This occurs when the author assumes that the cases that receive the most publicity are the most common cases.
Example: 90% of news reports talk about negative events. Therefore, it follows that 90% of events that occur in the real world are negative.
#10. Straw Man: In this fallacy, the author puts forth one of his opponent’s weaker, less central arguments forward and destroys it, while acting like this argument is the crux of the issue.
Person A: We should relax the laws on beer.
Person B: ‘No, any society with unrestricted access to intoxicants loses its work ethic and goes only for immediate gratification.
UN Arabic Language Day – Video Competition
Did you know that December 18th is UN Arabic Language Day?
December 18 was the day Arabic became one of the working languages of the United Nations in 1973.
On this occasion, the International Institute of Debate (IIDebate) in Tunisia is planning on holding a national video marathon entitled; “Arabic Language to me is…”, where you would send us your 7 seconds video answering the question in Arabic and IIDebate will pick the best videos for a final 3 minutes video which will end with a motion on the issue, and the showcased entries will then choose a Pro or Con side to participate in a dialogue on the stance; Globalization is affecting Arabic Identity.
Identity is one of the main issue matters effecting Tunisian society and youth specifically, especially after the revolution. Tunisian culture has continued to evolve within a duality throughout history, given its geographical setting.
This multi-layered specificity and ever so more westernized thought that seems to portray with varying intensities the Tunisian cultural mindset and system is a dynamic amalgam that needs to be understood. This understanding requires a national introspection and hence a dialogue in order for the static to be appeased.
Steps:
1. Take you camera or phone,
2. In 7 seconds, tell us what Arabic is to you (in Arabic),
3. Upload the video and send it to our facebook inbox or our email,
4. Deadline is December 17th,
5. If your video is picked ,we will notify you via Facebook,
6. You will then pick a side on the motion presented at the end of our video and participate in a dialogue in Tunis,
-Get filming!
The 9 Principles of Good Debating
These are 9 simple principles to be a good Debater.
- Questions or challenges should be professional. Insulting, condescending, or comments involving personal language or attacks are unacceptable.
- Critical analysis, synthesis, rhetorical skill, and wit are keys to debate success.
- Focus on the opposing side’s position or argument. Knowing the “other side” is critical for preparing strategies to refute your opponent’s arguments.
- Limit your arguments to three or less.
- Use logic to make your arguments. Present these arguments clearly and concisely.
- Know the common errors in thinking like logical fallacies and use them effectively in your refutation.
- Present the content accurately. Only use content that is pertinent to your point of view and draw on support from authoritative sources.
- Be certain of the validity of all external evidence presented for your arguments. Also, challenges to the validity of evidence should be made only on substantive grounds.
- Your rebuttal (or conclusion) in a debate is your final summary position. Use it as an opportunity to highlight important issues that indicate proof of your points or refute your opponent’s argument.
Share with us your tips for debate preparation and winning in the comments.
