Logical Fallacies
Use this set to help you study the different advertising techniques.
Terms
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- Red Herring Example
- *Person A: What about Christmas? *Person B: Well, my aunt is coming next week.
- False Cause
- Wrongly assumes a cause-and-effect relationship ('A' causes 'B' without proof that a relationship actually exists).
- Scare Tactic Example
- "If you vote for this candidate, then your children's lives will be at stake!"
- Hasty Generalization
- Draws a conclusion about a population based on a small sample (jumping to conclusions).
- False Cause Example
- Christians believe in God. Muslims believe in God. Therefore, Christians are Muslims.
- Bandwagon
- Creates the impression that everybody is doing it and so should you
- Hasty Generalization Example
- I met some students from Fort Riley yesterday, who were very polite. I think all children from that area must be well-behaved.
- Glittering Generality Example
- "I am the new candidate for CHANGE." or "It's NEW"
- False Dilemma Example
- Either you are with me or against me.
- Red Herring
- Presents an irrelevant topic to divert attention away from the original issue. The logic follows this form: Topic A is under discussion. Topic B is introduced under the assumption that it's related. Topic A is abandoned.
- Traditional Wisdom Example
- The theory that witches and demons cause disease is far older than the theory that microrganisms cause diseases. Therefore, the theory about witches and demons must be true.
- Pitch Beast
- Uses an animal to endorse a person, product, or idea.
- Traditional Wisdom
- This occurs when it is assumed that something is better or correct simply because it is traditional or "has always been done"
- Scare Tactic
- Creates fear in people as evidence to support a claim. Mostly this is done by some form of threat.
- Testimonial
- A famous person endorses a product, ideal, or candidate.
- Appeal to Emotions
- When something is associated with good/bad feelings, then it must be true/wrong (manipulates people's emotions)
- Pitch Beast Example
- When the Gieco Gecko is used in commercials to endorse the insurance company.
- Ad Hominem Example
- *Person A: I think that the US will come out of this recession quickly. *Person B: What do you know about economics? You don't even have a job!
- Appeal to the People
- Uses the views of the majority as a persuasive device (very similar to bandwagon).
- Testimonial Example
- When Oprah Winfrey mentions a book, it becomes a best seller.
- Ad Hominem
- When the person presenting an argument is attacked instead of the argument itself (against the person).
- Appeal to Emotions Example
- A commercial comes on the TV asking for money to help remove animals from abusive homes and shows a slide show of cute kittens and puppies.
- Glittering Generality
- Uses attractive, but vague, words that embody ideals such as: freedom, fame, justice, respect. This technique seeks to evoke emotions without making any commitments.
- Fallacy
- Statements that are logically false, but which appear to be true. Basically, an error in reasoning.
- Bandwagon Example
- "You're not cool unless you wear this brand of clothing"
- False Dilemma
- Either A or B is true. C is not an option. This is based on the assumption that the choices offered are the only choices.