ARGUMENTATION

PERSUASION

OTHER TERMS

• "soundness"--evidence makes logical or common sense for argument
• "logos, pathos & ethos" (Aristotle)
• Inductive reasoning: examination only of specific example or evidence
• Deductive reasoning: discussion from general to specific case
• Inductive conclusion is automatically sound argument

Rogerian argument
Carl Rogers' theory of coming to a conclusion by empathetic listening

Toulmin argument (- Stephen Toulmin

SYLLOGISM

• All cats are gold colored.
• Ron is a cat.
• Ron is a gold colored cat (valid argument)

FALLACIES
Faults in reasoning, logic, or evidence present in arguments
SEVERELY weaken arguments!
These are all very poor attempts at arguments!

POST HOC FALLACY
Cause/effect relationship occurs because one thing preceded the other
"Picture is out of focus on TV. Owner bangs on side of TV and focus is restored. Banging on side of TV fixes focus."

NON SEQUITIR FALLACY
Conclusion reached with no logical evidence presented; "does not follow"
"The woman drives a BMW car. She must be rich."
Close to an "assumption": a conclusion thought true even though no evidence is given to prove the statement.

AD HOMINEM FALLACY
Attack on person presenting argument than the argument itself
"One cannot believe anything in this book because the author did not even finish high school."

APPEALS TO QUESTIONABLE OR FAULTY AUTHORITIES
Using evidence from a source which is not necessarily an expert source of information
"An unidentified spokesperson claims the Senator will resign."

BEGGING THE QUESTION
Failure to establish proof for a debatable point
"Ghosts exist because I saw one once."

FALSE ANALOGY FALLACY
Conclusion based on two things featuring some characteristics that says all like things MUST also have those characteristics.
"Driving while smoking a cigarette isn't illegal, so smoking marijuana while driving should not be either." (p. 416)

Slippery Slope Fallacy
Concludes that if A happens then it will cause all these things to happen--so we do not want A

EITHER/OR FALLACY
Conclusion of argument MUST an extreme outcome or its opposite
"We must oppose the adoption of ObamaCare or the entire medical community will collapse."

Circular Argument
Argument that tries to prove itself by repeating itself
Barack Obama is a good speaker because he speaks effectively.

Straw Man Fallacy
Oversimplifies the opponent's argument then attacks it
Leaders who oppose the minimum wage must really hate the poor.

Tu Quoque (What about...) Fallacy
Attempts to discredit another's argument without providing any refuting evidence or proof
"You should stop smoking." "Oh yeah? What about you--you've been smoking since your teens!"

Bandwagon (ad populum) Fallacy
Belief something is true if enough people say it is true--even though it may be false

RED HERRING FALLACY (Spun Argument)
Deliberate diversion (or "spin") away from central point of argument
"Pollution of the St. John's River is a serious issue. We need to create ways to attract business to our area and create jobs."

QUESTIONS?