Logic and Critical Thinking
MISLEADING USES OF LANGUAGE
4 Categories of Misleading Uses of Language that create “spin” on a message:
I.Slanters
II.Word Choices
III.Fine Print
IV.Evasions
Language that conceals dubious claims.
Replacing words or phrases
for emotional affect.
Qualifying claims in significant ways.
Distancing oneself from the negative.
I. Slanters
PERSUASIVE DEFINITION
A slanter involving a definition. It attempts to win the argument by defining the terms.
Example:
Pro-Life: “Abortion is the murder of unborn children.”
LOADED QUESTION
A slanter involving a question.
It sets someone up so that no matter how it’s answered, they’re wrong, or guilty.
The only way
out of a loaded
question is to
challenge the
question itself.
Teacher to Student who didn’t do well: “Why didn’t you try on this test?”
PROOF SUBSTITUTE
A slanter that implies there is proof when there is none.
“Believe me, …”
“Sources say…”
“Studies show…”
Sources said
that Nick Saban was going
to take the head coaching
position at Alabama.
Nick Saban angrily said that reporters should believe him when he says
that he’s not going to Alabama, and that they should back off.
Then he took the job.
INNUENDO
A slanter that implies criticism without directly saying it.
When told that Joe committed the crime, Henry said, “Well he was from Oakland, you know.”
II. Word Choices
UP-PLAYER
Language that makes something sound more significant than it really was.
Many of Putin’s
opponents
have been arrested,
including
chess champion
Gary Kasparov.
Saying “I managed to get elected 3 times!” when in fact, no one else ran against them.
(Or Putin saying that his party has won free and democratic elections?)
DOWN-PLAYER
Language that makes something sound less significant than it really was.
“It was just a GE course.”
EUPHEMISM
A term that makes something sound better than a neutral term would have.
What other name might we call the police when we’re happy with them?
DYSPHEMISM
A term that makes something sound worse than a neutral term would have.
What other name might we call the police when we’re not happy with them?
“Peace Officer” or “Officer of the Law”
Euphemism or Dysphemism?
Up-player or Down-player?
“Peace Officer” or “Officer of the Law”
Euphemism or Dysphemism?
Up-player or Down-player?
III. Fine Print
QUALIFIER
Additional information that modifies the meaning of what was previously said.
Free? What’s the catch? How do I get that “free” gas?
WEASELER
An extreme qualifier that completely negates the meaning of the original statement.
$120 Computer?
WEASEL WORDS
Words that take away the impact of what you’re saying as you say it.
examples:
may
might
perhaps
could
there’s a chance
it’s possible that
for all I know
you’re probably
thinking:
‘Well, do you mean
it or not?’
“Look, Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous, and Iran will be dangerous
if they have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. What's to say
they couldn't start another covert nuclear weapons program?” (George Bush, JAN 2007)
There’s still a danger! Iran may start up their program again!
IV. Evasions
EVADING THE ISSUE
Changing the Subject
When asked about Senator McCain’s financial deregulation policies,
Governor Palin chose to talk about something she was familiar with
—her tax policies in Alaska.
Red Herring
Substituting Arguments
Politicians and Administration officials are being asked about cuts to the CSU System.
They will inevitably give an argument about a budget crisis.
SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF PROOF
Asking someone else to give good reasons in support of their position,
so you don’t have to provide good reasons in support of yours.
Neo-Darwinist: “Prove to me that there was an intelligent designer! You can’t!”
ID’er: “Prove to me that there wasn’t intelligent design!”
OBFUSCATION
…is a verbal smokescreen that uses a lot of words, often using highly technical jargon,
to make it seem like you’re answering the question when you’re actually not.
Successful obfuscation leaves the questioner unsure as to whether the question
has been answered or not… at least temporarily.