Fallacy lecture Slippery slope Ad hominem Hasty generalization Dr. Lynn Meade

1. Dr. Lynn Meade
Advanced Public Speaking
University of Arkansas

2. I want you to learn to identify and avoid using speech fallacies so I
created a series of training modules for you to work through. Each
folder contains 3-4 fallacies, definitions, and examples. After working
through the training Power Point, you should take the quiz. It is my
goal that you will be a great fallacy detector after going through this
training. So, let’s get started !

3. A fallacy is an error in reasoning. It is a weak argument.
In specific terms, it is an argument in which the premises given for
the conclusion do not provide the needed degree of support.

4. Fallacies keep us from having good discussions of the issues at hand.
They distract us from the real issue.
They “trick” us into faulty reasoning.
They deceive us into bad conclusions.

5. One bad thing will
result in many other
bad things

6. This fallacy assumes that one bad thing will
result in many other bad things.
The speaker never proves a real
connection to the
next step.

7. Slippery Slope
 Rebecca Kleefisch, Republican candidate for
Lt. Governor in Wisconsin on gay marriage
 "At what point are we going to OK marrying
inanimate objects? Can I marry this table, or
this, you know, clock? Can we marry dogs?"

8. "We have to stop the tuition increase!
The next thing you know, they'll be
charging $40,000 a semester!"

9. Front.moveon.org

10. Democratic leaders say their legislation will
grow the economy. What it will do is grow the
government, increase our taxes down the
line, and saddle future generations with debt.
Who amongst us would ask our children for a
loan so we could spend money we do not
have on things we do -- we do not need?
Governor Jindal’s GOP response to Obama
speech

11.  Ad hominem means “to the man”
 Instead of attacking the argument, the
speaker attacks the person.

12. 1. Abusive—direct attack of a person
2. Circumstantial—the person is “guilty by
association”
3. Tu quoque—(You too) --The person doesn’t
“practice what they preach.” It is calling the
person a hypocrite.
4. Poisoning the well—Pre-emptive strike. Saying
things to make others doubt a person’s
credibility.

14. Instead of talking about the issue, “evolution”, the other
duck comes back with a personal attack.
That makes this an ad hominem abusive fallacy.

15. "You can't possibly accept the findings of that
study on smoking--it was paid for by the
tobacco industry."

16. "You can't possibly accept the findings of that
study on smoking--it was paid for by the
tobacco industry."
Notice that the person is “guilty by
association.” Instead of discussing the
problems with the findings, the speaker only
attack the circumstances surrounding the
study.

17.  A little background on this first...
 Sarah Palin, when running for the Vice
President of the US, wanted to look like she
was tough but also approachable so she said
in a speech:
 “What’s the difference between a hockey
mom and a pit bull?” (Pause…) “Lipstick.”

18. "You can put lipstick on a pig.
It's still a pig.“

19. "You can put lipstick on a pig.
It's still a pig.“
Now Obama claims that this was not
a reference to Palin but I think we all know better.
This is a personal attack
making it an Ad Hominem Abusive

20. "Our opponent though is someone who sees
America, it seems, as being so imperfect that
he's palling around with terrorists who would
target their own country.“

21. "Our opponent though is someone who sees
America, it seems, as being so imperfect that
he's palling around with terrorists who would
target their own country.“
She is attacking the relationship he has with
terrorists. She is saying he’s “guilty by
association” making this an
Ad Hominem Circumstantial

22. Obama says: “Governor Romney's says he's
got a five-point plan? Governor Romney
doesn't have a five-point plan.
He has a one-point plan.
And that plan is to make sure that folks at the
top play by a different set of rules. That's been
his philosophy in the private sector, that's been
his philosophy as governor, that's been his
philosophy as a presidential candidate.”

23. Obama says: “Governor Romney's says he's got a five-point
plan? Governor Romney doesn't have a five-point plan.
He has a one-point plan.
And that plan is to make sure that folks at the top play by a
different set of rules. That's been his philosophy in the
private sector, that's been his philosophy as governor, that's
been his philosophy as a presidential candidate.”
Notice that Obama is making fun of Romney’s plan calling it
a “one-point plan” and he also accused Romney of looking
out for the rich, “making sure that folks at the top play by a
different set of rules.”

24. Al Gore lectures extensively on saving the planet
and eliminating greenhouse gas.
The USA Today editorial columnist writes: “Public
records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on
excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live
in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room,
eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-
square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a
third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone
rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme
personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from
himself.”

25. Al Gore lectures extensively on saving the planet and eliminating
greenhouse gas.
The USA Today editorial columnist writes: “Public records reveal that
as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his
wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room,
eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in
Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For
someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal
sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.”
Notice how this editor accuses Gore of not practicing what he
preaches or being a hypocrite. It may be true that Gore is a hypocrite
but that doesn’t mean that we still shouldn’t try to help the
environment. The true argument get’s lost here.

26.  The name comes from the
middle ages where the Jews
were blamed for putting rotten
meat in the wells thus
everything coming out of the
well was tainted. Accusers said
that the Jews would poison the
water causing the plague.
 Similarly, if you “poison” the
reputation of another then
every word out of their mouth is
suspect.

28. Before you listen to my opponent speak, may
I remind you that he just supported the
largest tax break to the rich in the history
of America.

29. Before you listen to my opponent speak, may I
remind you that he just supported the largest
tax break to the rich in the history of America.
Now that the reputation has been “poisoned,”
the listeners are suspicious that all the policies
and ideas of this person will support the rich.

30. Now, Governor Romney will say he's got an all-of-the-
above plan, but basically his plan is to let the
oil companies write the energy
policies. So he's got the oil and gas part, but he
doesn't have the clean energy part.
Notice how Obama “poisons the well” so we think
that Romney can’t be trusted. Obama tells us that
the oil companies wrote Romney’s plan. This is
also an ad hominem circumstantial because he
attacks the relationship.

31. Now, Governor Romney will say he's got an all-of-
the-above plan, but basically his plan is to let
the oil companies write the energy
policies. So he's got the oil and gas part, but he
doesn't have the clean energy part.

32. In this fallacy,
one draws
conclusions
from
insufficient
observations.
http://jcroom1.blogspot.com/2012/06/hasty-generalization.html

33. I was almost hit by a car while crossing the
street. The car had Texas plates.
All Texas drivers are dangerous.

34. We just need to flush the toilet in Washington
since all politicians are crooks.

35. We just need to flush the toilet in Washington
since all politicians are crooks.
There is faulty reasoning in assuming “all” of a group are
something negative.
All doctors are just in it for the money…
All fraternity boys are alcoholics…
All Mexicans…
All college teachers…
All women…

36. Last month my mailman
was bitten by a Labrador Retriever.
And last week I read in the paper that one
attacked two children without provocation.
So it should be obvious that Labs are vicious
and should be banned from public areas.

37. Using fallacies are bad ways to make a point.
Bad arguments cause people to be misled. It is
true that sometimes they work, but at what
cost?
It is important for you to be able to detect
fallacies so that you are not misled. Many of the
fallacies occur in politics and you may vote for
these people. Learning to identify fallacies
helps you to cut through to the real issue.

38.  Review the Slippery slope, ad hominem, and
hasty generalization fallacy.
 Print the handout and Power point if needed.
 Take the quiz.

39. http://www.patrickmckenna.com/radcontent/Uploads/BS-meter.jpg

40. You can print this Power Point
to use as your notes
And
There is a handout with the definitions and
examples on Blackboard.
Reference page for the speeches, definitions, and examples is on the class handout