FALLACIES OF

RELEVANCE

TH E R ED H ER R I N G

The red herring fallacy is used to describe something that misleads or

detracts from the actual or otherwise important issue.

It is an irrelevant topic introduced in an argument used by

manipulators to divert attention from the audience or readers from

the original issue.

MISSING THE POINT OF AN ARGUMENT

Red herrings are informal fallacies that fall

under the category of ignoratio elenchi which in

Latin literally means; "ignorance of the nature of

how something is refuted.“

In literature led herrings are usually used to lead

readers to false conclusions about the story so

that the readers don’t guess the end of the story

and ruin the suspense that was building up since

the beginning of the story.

ORIGIN OF THE TERM ‘RED HERRING’

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RED HERRING

A red herring is usually emotionally charged in order to

pull away the participant from the topic on hand.

It is irritating because it leaves the opponent completely

unable to prove his point

The red herring is basically used to distract the audience,

hence, lead them astray form the topic and eventually

abandon their argument.

Topic A is under discussion1

Topic B is introduced under the guise of being

relevant to topic

Topic A is subsequently abandoned

EXAMPLE 1 – THE MISBEHAVING TEENAGER

TO

PIC

A

The teenager is asked by his parent why he got home so late the previous night

TO

PIC

B

In response to this, the teenager replies, " Last night was pretty cold, I wonder if winter is coming; I better go and fetch a sweater before I get sick

EM

OT

ION

AL

AP

PE

AL This appeals to

the parents emotions as he moves from questioning why the teenager was late to worrying about his well -being).

EXAMPLE 2 - INTELLIGENT DESIGN V EVOLUTION

TOPIC A

• Is the theory of evolution true?

TOPIC B

• Should the church be separate from the state?

CONCLUSION

• Political and social questions distract the audience from the scientific topic at hand

EXAMPLE 3 – IS EATING MEAT HEALTHY?

TOPIC A

• Is eating meat healthy?

TOPIC B

• Killing animals is

cruel!

CONCLUSION

• Don’t eat meat!

• Fight for animal

rights!

EXAMPLE 4 – IS GLOBAL WARMING A PROBLEM?

There is a need to reduce green house gases in order to minimize global warming

But the most serious problem facing future generations is the risk posed by nuclear weapons in the hands of rogue states and terrorists.

Reduction of nuclear weapons should be the focus of our attention and resources

TOPIC A TOPIC B CONCLUSI

ON