Manipulating Content Flashcards
Trying to save a cherished belief by repeatedly revising the argument to explain away problems.
‘But apart from better sanitation, medicine, education, irrigation, public health, roads, a freshwater system and public order.. What have the Romans done for us?’
Ad Hoc Rescue
Hiding other contributory factors and supporting the truth of your claim without any evidence other than the conclusion of your claim.
‘All illegal drugs are harmful - that’s why they’re illegal.’
Begging the Question
Generalizing from an unrepresentative sample to increase the strength of your argument.
‘Our website poll found that 90% of internet users oppose online piracy laws.’
Biased Generalization
Looking only for evidence that supports your argument while ignoring contradicting evidence.
‘It’s obvious – 9/11 was an American-government led conspiracy to justify the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. No plane hit the Pentagon. The Twin Towers collapse was a controlled demolition… etc.’
Confirmation Bias
Presenting two opposing options as the only options while hiding alternatives.
‘We’re going to have to cut the education budget or go deeper into debt. We can’t afford to go deeper into debt, so we’ll have to cut the education budget.’
False Dilemma
An outright untruth repeated knowingly as a fact.
‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman.’
Lie
Describing an occurrence in vivid detail, even if it is a rare occurrence, to convince someone that it is a true.
‘After legalizing gay marriage, school libraries were required to stock same-sex literature; primary school children were given homosexual fairy tales and even manuals of explicit homosexual advocacy.’
Misleading Vividness
Introducing irrelevant material to the argument to distract and lead towards a different conclusion.
‘Why should the senator account for irregularities in his expenses? After all, there are senators who have done far worse things.’
Red Herring
Assuming a relatively small first step will inevitably lead to a chain of related (negative) events.
‘If we legalize marijuana, more people will start using crack and heroin, then we’d have to legalize those too.’
Slippery Slope
Intentionally failing to use significant and relevant information which counts against one’s own conclusion.
‘This Iraqi regime possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons.’
Suppressed Evidence
Offering a claim that cannot be proven false, because there is no way to check if it is false or not.
‘He lied because he’s possessed by demons.’
Unfalsifiability
idea that gaps in scientific understanding are regarded as indications of the existence of God
God of the gaps
