SCAMMED!
How did the scammers convince
their victims?
1. Used arguments.
2. Used “credibility”.
3. Used rhetoric.
Rhetoric
• Rhetorical devices not just about language
choice.
• Rhetorical devices also include “pretend
reasoning” called…
Pseudoreasoning:
Presenting premises that sound like part of a
legitimate argument, but do not really give good
reasons to believe a conclusion.
Rhetoric
Pseudoreasoning lead us to fallacies.
Fallacies:
Mistakes in reasoning.
Fallacies
What’s going on here?
•
http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/jvi6id/people-who-are-destroyingamerica---landscaping-goats
#1 - “Scapegoating”
”(Special type of argument from
outrage)
• Inciting anger by blaming a certain group of people or a
single person for problems.
• Examples?
Fallacies
What’s going on here?
•
http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/c4fdt8/daylight-savings-socialism
#2 -“
“Argument”
” from Outrage
• Instead of: Premise Conclusion
• We have: Inflammatory words Conclusion
• Substitutes anger for reason.
Rhetoric
Just because an argument is said
with anger doesn’t make it a
fallacy.
“Sarah owns a Leblanc
Saxophone. Since Leblanc makes
all their instruments in France,
Sarah must own a French
saxophone….dammit!!!”
Fallacies
What are these people trying to do?
1. Salesman:
“Buy Michelin tires. Don’t risk your children’s
safety by buying inferior brands.”
2. Political Pundit:
“Don’t vote for him. He doesn’t scare the
terrorists. If he’s in office the terrorists will surely
strike again.”
#3 - Scare Tactics
• Trying to scare us into accepting or doing something.
• Substitutes fear for reason.
Fallacies
#4 - Special type of Scare Tactic:
“Argument”
” from Force
• Using personal threats to convince someone to accept
or do something.
This…
Salesman:
“Buy Michelin tires. Don’t risk your children’s
safety by buying inferior brands.”
Becomes this…
Salesman:
“Buy Michelin tires, or I’ll run you over.”
“Buy Michelin tires, or I’ll eat your children.”
Fallacies
More “Argument” from Force Examples
This…
Political Pundit:
“Don’t vote for him. He doesn’t scare the
terrorists. If he’s in office the terrorists will
surely strike again.”
Becomes this…
Political Pundit:
“Don‘t vote for him or I’ll have you fired!”
“Don’t vote for him or I’ll expose your affair on
television!”
Other Emotional Based
Fallacies
#5 - “Argument”
” From Pity
•“Professor, you should give me an A on the
midterm. My wife just left me and my child has
only one good eye.”
#6 - “Argument”
” From Envy
•“You shouldn’t let Bill Gates off the hook for a
traffic violation. He’s a millionaire and owns half
the universe.”
#7 - “Argument”
” From Pride (Apple Polishing)
•“Officer, thank you for protecting my
neighborhood and keeping us safe. If you think I
was speeding, I must have been. But do you think
you can find it in your kind heart to let me go this
one time?”
Group Exercise
In groups of 3- 6 come up with original examples
of each of the following fallacies:
1.“Argument” from Outrage
2. “Argument” using a Scapegoat.
3. Scare Tactics
4.“Argument” from Force
5.“Argument” from Pity
6.“Argument” from Envy
7.“Argument” from Pride (Apple Polishing)
Review: Rhetoric
• Rhetorical devices not just about language
choice.
• Rhetorical devices also include “pretend
reasoning” called…
Pseudoreasoning:
Presenting premises that sound like part of a
legitimate argument, but do not really give good
reasons to believe a conclusion.
Pseudoreasoning lead us to fallacies.
Fallacies:
Mistakes in reasoning.
Group Exercise
In groups of 3- 6 come up with original examples
of each of the following fallacies:
1.“Argument” from Outrage
2. “Argument” using a Scapegoat.
3. Scare Tactics
4.“Argument” from Force
5.“Argument” from Pity
6.“Argument” from Envy
7.“Argument” from Pride (Apple Polishing)