Fallacies of Diversion

ad hominem

attacks person rather than arg, used to avoid answering the arg

subdivision of ad hominem: poisoning the well

direct attack on trustworthiness/integrity of person (opp), person does so by using unfavorable label

subdivision of ad hominem: tu quoque

accusing someone else of which you’ve been accused of yourself

ad verecundiam

appeal to authority of which authority is illegitimate

ex. scientists say . . .

ad baculum

with a stick; using threat in place of an arg; force rather than reason

ad misercurdiam

appeal to pity; not out of good, reasoned arg, but b/c feel sorry for them

ex. my dog died i cant do another thing today

ad ignominiam

appeal to shame; using emotion in place of arg

ex. you? a lawyer?

ad populum

to the ppl; person should/n’t do something simply b/c other ppl are/not doing it

subdivision of ad populum: snob appeal

uses status of particular group in place of arg

ex. cigars! not for everybody! (special/elite to use)

subdivision of ad populum: the big lie

appeal to group identity (person already belongs)

ex. my ppl are doing it so it must be right

ad ignorantiam

to ignorance; idea must be true b/c we don’t know that it isnt true

ex. must be intell life bc no one has proved theres not

exigency

attempt to cause someone to take a certain action based on fake time limitations

repetition

replaces rational arg w/rep of claim

ex. say it enough times ppl will believe (jingles)

transfer

taking values and feeling abt one thing and connect to something else; superficially similar; linked by physical prox.

ex. humor, vivacious content

appeal to novelty

assuming w/o compelling evidence; anything newer is better