Everyday Arguments Lecture Notes

Everyday Arguments Lecture Notes

Course Information

  • Course Title: Everyday Arguments

  • Course Code: INDP 170

  • Instructor: Professor Zarit

Reminders

  • Agenda: Discussion of flawed arguments and common fallacies.

Quiz Details

  • Date: Monday, during class.

  • Format: Closed book and closed notes.

  • Content: Three short answer questions.

  • Total Points: Worth 10 points.

Brainstorm Session

  • Prompt: Reflect on a past frustrating argument.

    • Questions to Consider:

    • What made the argument frustrating?

    • What specific behaviors from the other person were bothersome?

Flawed Arguments Overview

  • Introduction: There are numerous types of flawed arguments that commonly occur.

Fallacies Defined

  • Definition: A fallacy is a mistaken logical belief.

  • Common Fallacies to Discuss:

    • Anecdotes

    • Ad Hominem

    • Myths

    • Facts

    • Red Herring

    • Slippery Slope

    • Ad Ignorantiam

    • Ad Misericordiam

    • Ad Populum

    • Appeal to Authority

    • Circular Reasoning

    • Complex Question

    • Straw Man

    • Ad Hoc

Anecdotes Explained

  • Definition: A brief narrative or story based on personal experience.

  • Commonality: Anecdotes are frequently used in discussions and arguments, but they should not be convincing as solid evidence.

Anecdotes as Lazy Arguments

  • Description: Anecdotes provide a limited view, representing only a small collection of experiences.

    • Research Perspective: Refers to as an N of 1 or a small N (with N representing the number of observations).

    • Contrast with Big Data: Big Data involves gathering a large number of observations, which is the opposite of relying on anecdotes.

Anecdotal Evidence Example

  • Scenario: A prospective student visits SRU.

    • Positive Experience: A 1-2 sentence story conveying a positive aspect of the university.

    • Negative Experience: A 1-2 sentence story that conveys a negative aspect to persuade against attending.

Ad Hominem Fallacy

  • Literal Translation: “To the person” in Latin.

  • Definition: Attacking the character or circumstance of an individual instead of presenting reasoned arguments.

  • Examples:

    • “Donald Trump said it, so it can’t be true.”

    • “Joe Biden said it, so it can’t be true.”

    • “You wouldn’t understand because you’re not from Pennsylvania.”

    • “You have a lower GPA than me, so why should I listen to you?”

Myth Fallacy

  • Definition: Dismissing an argument as a myth simply because one personally does not believe it.

  • Implications: This represents a lazy way to disregard evidence without engaging in critical reasoning.

Myth Examples - COVID-19

  • Discussion Prompt: What are some prevailing myths related to COVID-19 or the COVID vaccines?

Facts and Their Interpretation

  • Common Belief: “That’s just a fact!”

    • Caveat: Facts can change or be interpreted differently over time.

Examples of Contextual Interpretations

  • Example 1: Number of planets in the solar system (e.g., Pluto’s reclassification).

  • Example 2: Interpretation of events, such as someone perceiving an occurrence as a sign from God, while another views it as a random chance.

Interpretation Examples

  • Scenario 1: Witnessing a shooting event and seeing an individual flee.

    • Interpretative Questions: What could this signify?

  • Scenario 2: Explanation of consistently rising temperatures.

    • Interpretative Questions: What does this imply?

Red Herring Fallacy

  • Definition: Using a misleading argument or question to distract from the primary issue.

Examples of Red Herring

  • Example 1: A student protests about a grade, and the teacher responds with a social issue: “Look at all the suffering worldwide from war.”

  • Example 2: A driver pulled over for speeding argues that police should focus on “real criminals,” attempting to divert the discussion from their traffic violation.

Slippery Slope Fallacy

  • Definition: An argument suggesting that a particular action will lead predictably to a series of negative consequences.

  • Common Examples:

    • Allowing students to wear hats will eventually lead to them arriving in pajamas.

    • Legalizing marijuana could lead to the legalization of all drugs.

    • Accepting same-sex marriage could open the door for marriage between adults and children or animals.

Ad Ignorantiam Fallacy

  • Definition: Asserting that a claim is true simply because it has not been proven false.

Historical Reference: Joseph McCarthy

  • Question: Who was Joseph McCarthy?

    • Quote: “I do not have much information on this except the general statement of the agency that there is nothing in the files to disprove his Communist connections.”

More Examples of Ad Ignorantiam

  • Example 1: Inferring that the class is ready for a test because there are no questions raised regarding the topics covered.

  • Example 2: Claiming the existence of UFOs based on a lack of evidence proving they do not exist.

Ad Misericordiam Fallacy

  • Definition: An argument that elicits pity as a means of persuasion.

  • Examples:

    • “If I fail this class, then I won’t graduate!”

    • “If you tell my parents, they will kill me!”

Engagement Activity

  • Activity: Kahoot quiz setup.

Upcoming Quiz Content

  • Quiz Coverage: Chapters 1-3, along with material discussed in class.

  • Important Note: Some fallacies may not be present in the textbook, but a complete list will be provided for quiz preparation, alleviating concerns about exact spelling and definitions.

Questions and Wrap-Up

  • Open Floor: Any questions regarding today's material?