TFY Ch. 10 Summary - Fallacies

TFY Ch. 10
Fallacies

Ch. 10 is about the different kinds of fallacies and how to recognize them. The chapter defines a fallacy as a statement or argument that presents itself as soundly reasoned when it is not. If we want to be better critical thinkers, we have to realize when someone’s argument contains fallacies and make sure not to use them ourselves. This chapter specifically discusses twelve fallacies. These twelve are divided in three categories. The following is the list of the twelve fallacies.
Manipulation through Language
1. Word ambiguity - the use of vague or undefined words for an advantage
2. Misleading euphemisms - hidden meaning due to word play that makes it seem positive or unrecognizable.
3. Prejudicial language - use of loaded words that convey bias
Manipulation through Emotion
4. Appeal to fear - persuade by instilling fear
5. Appeal to pity - persuade by causing pity
6. Appeal to false authority - citing fake or inappropriate authority
7. Appeal to bandwagon - persuade by appealing to popular momentum
8. Appeal to prejudice - attacking a person and not his argument and poisoning the well which is seeking to prejudice others against a person.
Manipulation through Distraction
9. Red herring - diverting attention to other issues
10. Pointing to another wrong - highlighting another wrong and saying how that went unnoticed or unpunished.
11. Straw man - misrepresents opponent, then refutes this false misrepresentation. Also focuses in on a minor point and says this invalidates the entire argument.
12. Circular reasoning - this is when someone makes a conclusion or point without evidence and just keeps repeating it in different words but without any reasoning to it.
The chapter states that there are eight more fallacies but those will be discussed in a later chapter. After reading all of these fallacies, I came to realize how often people use fallacies and how widespread it is. I’m sure that I sometimes probably have used them without even realizing it. I’ll try to make a conscious effort from now on not to use them. If you are confident in your view or opinion, you should not need manipulative and deceitful tactics to get your message across.