fallacy of diversion
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GARCIA, Mary Grace J.
PONCE, Jozelle Marie N.
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FALLACY OF DIVERSION
lead the discussion away from the issues bydirecting it elsewhere
committed when one changes the issue in themiddle of an argument
to make the audience forget the point orbecome unwilling to consider it
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FALLACY OF DIVERSION
in order to avoid defeat one sidesteps the issue
to win on a different ground
Devices: resorting to humor, bringing up
irrelevant material, interrupting thought with
protests or questions
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Example 1
Since Senator Coulthard wants to decrease defense spending,And this would fail to support our troops in the Middle East,
And weaken our military position around the world,
And we would not be able to keep our commitments abroad,
Because we would become a second-rate military power,[and since we shouldsupport our troops and should not
weaken our military position around the world,](implicit
moral premise)
And we shouldkeep our commitments abroad,] (implicit
moral premise)
[Therefore, we should not adopt the senators proposal.]
(implicit conclusion)
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Example 2
MARCIA: Unless we build a power plant in thisarea within the next ten years, we wont be
able to meet the significantly growing demand
for electrical power.
DAVID: What youre saying is that you couldnt
care less what happens to the plant life and
wildlife area or even to human lives that mightbe dislocated by the building of this dam.
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Example 3
"I fail to see why hunting should beconsidered cruel when it gives
tremendous pleasure to many people
and employment to even more."
So we should stop talking about cruelty
and start talking about pleasure and
employment?
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Example 4
Christianity is the only true religion: Ithas clearly been of great help to many
people."
No matter how well he argues how much
it has helped people, he will not have
shown that Christian teachings are true.
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Example 5
"It is very clear that we prescribepsycho-active medications to
people who dont really need
them.
We should outlaw these drugs
altogether!"
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RED-HERRING
-When you introduce an irrelevant
issue into the debate to divert your
opponentor audience from the original issue
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Example
You know, I've begun to think that there issome merit in the Conservatives tax cut plan.
I suggest that you come up with
something like it, because if we Liberals are
going to survive as a party, we have got to
show that we are as tough-minded as they are,
since thats what the public wants.
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STRAW MAN ARGUMENT
-misrepresent your opponents position,
and then proceed to argue against the
distortion you yourself created
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EXAMPLE
"Senator Jones says that we should not fund the
attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I
can't understand why he wants to leave us
defenseless like that."