Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Commentary

Media Credit: Courtesy of MCT Capmus A red herring is a common logical fallacy used in argumentation. It's also a tasty fish. [Click to enlarge]

When arguing an issue, make sure that you focus on the issue, not the person. Saying that your opponent is uninformed means very little if you do not support your conclusion. What exactly is missing from your opponent's argument?

Don't crucify someone for ill chosen words. Even geniuses make thoughtless remarks sometimes. They get distracted, feel tired, or don't prepare for the discussion. A few words are not sufficient to gauge a person's intelligence.

If you are self-aware, you won't be surprised when someone else criticizes you. In fact, you may understand where they are coming from. This is how I usually greet valid, positive criticism. But don't wait for criticism; be proactive in searching for the kink in your own armor.

Don't feel the need to adhere to former positions when new evidence comes along. There is no disgrace in changing your mind; disgrace comes from refusing to change your mind when you should. View things the way they truly are and not the way you want them to be.

To further help you with your endeavors, consider the following list of logical fallacies. Arm yourself with these and you will be surprised how often they are used in advertising, political debates, films, and even arguments with your significant other. We are swarmed by such fallacies, and if you can't identify them, you will likely succumb to them.

Appeal to Emotion: "Only a complete idiot would fail to see the benefit of universal healthcare."

Appeal to Belief: "Most people believe in God, so He must exist."

Ad populum: "Most people support conservative values, therefore they are right."

Ad hominem: "Bill Clinton's AIDS initiatives are stupid. After all, he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky!"

Appeal to Fear: "Universal healthcare will lead to socialism, and before you know it, America will be like the USSR."

Flattery: "Surely someone as intelligent as you can see my point."

"Black or white": "If you're not with us, you're with the terrorists."

Red Herring: Presenting an argument that may be valid, but doesn't address the issue in question. "I shouldn't pay a fine for jaywalking, since there are more dangerous criminals that the police should be dealing with."

Bulverism: Assuming a person is wrong, then attempting to explain why the person holds their belief. "He thinks prostitution should be legal because he is a man and wants to pay for sex."

Appeal to Authority: "The Bible said it, and that settles it."

There are many more fallacies, and I encourage you to study them. That way you will be equipped to dissuade invalid counterarguments, while giving valid arguments more force by not surrounding them with faulty logic.

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