The red herring fallacy is used to intentionally divert attention from the original issue being discussed by introducing irrelevant topics. It misleads or distracts from important topics by appealing to emotions. Red herrings are used manipulatively in arguments and literature to lead people to false conclusions or prevent them from guessing the ending. They are characterized by introducing topic B instead of addressing topic A, then abandoning topic A. Several examples are given of red herrings used to avoid discussing the healthiness of meat, evolution vs intelligent design, and global warming.

1. FALLACIES OF
RELEVANCE
THE RED HERRING

2.  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.

3.  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.
MISSING THE POINT OF AN ARGUMENT

4. ORIGIN OF THE TERM ‘RED HERRING’

5.  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
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RED HERRING

6. 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
EMOTIONAL APPEAL
TOPIC B
TOPIC A
The teenager is
asked by his
parent why he got
home so late the
previous night
This appeals to
the parents
emotions as he
moves from
questioning why
the teenager was
late to worrying
about his well being).
EXAMPLE 1 – THE MISBEHAVING TEENAGER

7. 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 2 - INTELLIGENT DESIGN V EVOLUTION

8. TOPIC A
• Is eating meat
healthy?
TOPIC B
• Killing
animals is
cruel!
CONCLUSI
ON
• Don’t eat meat!
• Fight for animal
rights!
EXAMPLE 3 – IS EATING MEAT HEALTHY?

9. TOPIC A
There is a need to
reduce green house
gases in order to
minimize global
warming
TOPIC B
But the most serious
problem facing
future generations is
the risk posed by
nuclear weapons in
the hands of rogue
states and terrorists.
CONCLUSI
ON
Reduction of nuclear
weapons should be
the focus of our
attention and
resources
EXAMPLE 4 – IS GLOBAL WARMING A PROBLEM?