Media Literacy and Logical Fallacies

This set of flashcards covers the fundamental definitions of media literacy and critical thinking, detailed descriptions of common logical fallacies, and real-world examples of controversial media events in the Philippines.

Media Literacy

The ability to decode, analyze, evaluate and produce communication in a variety of forms, providing a framework to access, analyze, evaluate and create messages from print to video to the Internet.

Critical Thinking

The intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

Critical Thinking (Simplified Definition)

Thinking about your thinking while you're thinking in order to make your thinking better.

Fallacy

Very generally, an error in reasoning; an argument in which the premises given for the conclusion do not provide the needed degree of support.

Ad Hominem

Attacking your opponent's character or personal traits instead of engaging with their argument.

Strawman

Misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

Loaded Question

Asking a question that has an assumption built into it so that it can’t be answered without appearing guilty.

Begging the Question

A circular argument in which the conclusion is included in the premise.

Black or White

A fallacy where two alternative states are presented as the only possibilities, when in fact more possibilities exist.

Slippery Slope

Asserting that if we allow A to happen, then Z will consequently happen too; therefore A should not happen.

Burden of Proof

Saying that the burden of proof lies not with the person making the claim, but with someone else to disprove.

Composition/Division

Assuming that what’s true about one part of something has to be applied to all, or other parts of it.

Bandwagon

Appealing to popularity or the fact that many people do something as an attempted form of validation.

Appeal to Emotion

Manipulating an emotional response in place of a valid or compelling argument.

"The Naked Truth" (2014)

A Bench Philippines fashion show criticized for being sexist, resulting in public apologies from Bench and Coco Martin.

FHM Philippines March Issue (2012)

A controversial magazine cover uploaded on Feb. $25$, $2012$, which was criticized as racist and eventually recalled after Bella Padilla apologized.

SM Store T-shirt Controversy (2014)

A controversy raised by Karen Kunawicz regarding a t-shirt at SM Megamall criticized for promoting rape culture and the trivialization of rape.