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Part one is about how science works even when the public thinks it doesn't. Part two will certainly ruffle some feathers by offering a reason- and science-based perspective on issues where political correctness has gone awry. Part three provides some data-driven advice for your health and well-being. Part four looks at human behavior and how we can better navigate our social worlds. In part five we put on our skeptical goggles and critically examine a few commonly-held beliefs. In the final section, we look at a few ways how we all can make the world a better place.
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There are definitely issues with the logic in Linda's response. However, it can be argued Linda is just expressing an opinion (but this doesn't excuse poor reasoning). When she says "Bryson is a good guy," she's not actually addressing the issue at hand—whether or not Bryson punched Kate. Instead, she's diverting the conversation by bringing up Bryson's character. This could be considered a form of ad hominem (abusive) , but in reverse. Instead of attacking someone's character to discredit them, she's praising someone's character to shield them. This doesn't actually provide any evidence to counter Kate's claim non sequitur . Plus, being a "good guy" is subjective and doesn't mean someone is incapable of doing something harmful ambiguity fallacy . So, Linda's argument (even if just implied) isn't a strong one and could indeed be seen as fallacious. |
answered on Saturday, Sep 02, 2023 08:06:06 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD | |
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Another fallacy that can be applied is Argument from Incredulity. Description: Concluding that because you can't or refuse to believe something, it must not be true, improbable, or the argument must be flawed. This is a specific form of the argument from ignorance. Logical Form: Person 2 concludes, without any reason besides he or she cannot believe or refuses to believe it, that the claim is false or improbable. |
answered on Saturday, Sep 02, 2023 08:46:25 PM by Petra Liverani | |
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I'd suggest Hypothesis Contrary to Fact or argumentum ad speculum: Description: Offering a poorly supported claim about what might have happened in the past or future, if (the hypothetical part) circumstances or conditions were different. The fallacy also entails treating future hypothetical situations as if they are fact. Logical Form: If event X did happen, then event Y would have happened (based only on speculation). Alternatively, event X couldn't have happened because Y. While it might seem as though there is good reason for Bryson not to have punched Kate, the fact is he did. |
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answered on Saturday, Sep 02, 2023 06:22:19 AM by Petra Liverani | ||||
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It doesn't sound like a fallacy at all to me. I see two possibilities . . . 1. Linda really believes that Bryson is a good guy who wouldn't hurt a fly. 2. Linda is lying. |
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answered on Saturday, Sep 02, 2023 07:34:22 AM by David Blomstrom | |||||||
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