Do You Ever Intentionally Incorporate Logical Fallacies Into Your Arguments?

[On Yer Flour]

With a bit of study and practice, one may incorporate all sorts of logical fallacies, such as straw man, bandwagon fallacy, appeal to nature, appeal to tradition and so on, into one's arguments. We do this unintentionally all the time; however, when done with the right fallacy at the right time, one may win arguments by intentionally employing logical errors.

Is this ethical? Is it a good idea? Do you do it, and if you could, would you? This brings up all sorts of interesting issues regarding the ethics of debate.

 

[Elrohir]

I do when I'm being satirical. Does that count?

 

[On Yer Flour]

I do when I'm being satirical. Does that count?

I don't think so, no, as satire differs from sincere argument. You're poking fun, not making a point. It may get murky if the purpose of your poking fun is to make a point, however.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I have been known, in arguments, to find the positions that both I and my opponent held in common and immediately start attacking them. Calling artillery down on my own position so to speak. I did this all the time as a missionary (which was of course a terrible habit of mine; we weren't supposed to go around arguing, but sometimes people really wanted to). Does that count?

 

[Elrohir]

I don't think so, no, as satire differs from sincere argument. You're poking fun, not making a point. It may get murky if the purpose of your poking fun is to make a point, however.

Well, a lot of the time I'm being satirical and using a fallacious argument in order to show the fallaciousness of the other person's position.

 

[Ecofarm]

Of course I use it - everyone does (although most people have a feeble understanding of logic and do so unconsciously). I want to influence people and the sad fact is that purely logical arguments are often insufficient (especially when employed against shady tactics).

The only time is it unacceptable is in scientific work, and I'd do it there if I could get away with it.

I employ rhetoric (of various sorts) too, so you better watch out!

 

[Catharsis]

Of course I do it, it's tradition.

 

[bardolph]

With a bit of study and practice, one may incorporate all sorts of logical fallacies, such as straw man, bandwagon fallacy, appeal to nature, appeal to tradition and so on, into one's arguments. We do this unintentionally all the time; however, when done with the right fallacy at the right time, one may win arguments by intentionally employing logical errors.

Is this ethical? Is it a good idea? Do you do it, and if you could, would you? This brings up all sorts of interesting issues regarding the ethics of debate.

It's not ethical in the slightest. This is a typical troll post, written purely to start a flame fest, and you should be ashamed of your actions.

Just about every person on these forums would agree that trolling is bad, and I don't see what makes you think that your crazy ideas can be true when you are so clearly in the minority.

It is man's nature to be honest, and to present ideas in a clear and forthright manner, without any attempts at deception or misrepresentation.

This is the way good and righteous people have communicated since long before the Internet and forums such as this one.

What are you thinking? In summation: you are wrong. I am right.

 

[On Yer Flour]

Of course I do it, it's tradition.

Hahahahahaha.... The ever-so-witty reply-with-a-logical-fallacy answer.

 

[Gainy]

no i am not as clever as u. What ethical issues does it bring up?

 

[EconomistBR]

No I don't incorporate.

One note:
Logical fallacy example (from Wikipedia).
1- The average family has 2.5 children.
2- The Smiths are a very average family.
3- Therefore, the Smiths must have 2 or 3 children

This is fallacious, but if the definition of average family is determined solely by how many children it has then the above statement is not fallacious. Since this is not the case, and the definition of average family is determined by many criteria, the Smiths may violate the children criteria and still be considered a average family.

I am right, am I not?? help anyone

 

[On Yer Flour]

It's not ethical in the slightest. This is a typical troll post, written purely to start a flame fest, and you should be ashamed of your actions.

Your accusation that all poll-makers are trying to start flame wars astounds me. Clearly, you have no sense of reality.

Just about every person on these forums would agree that trolling is bad, and I don't see what makes you think that your crazy ideas can be true when you are so clearly in the minority.

Almost everyone here has made a poll at some point or another. Are you trying to accuse everyone on CFC of being a troll?

It is man's nature to be honest, and to present ideas in a clear and forthright manner, without any attempts at deception or misrepresentation.

It is also man's nature to be stupid, as is clearly shown by your idiotic, flaming accusations.

This is the way good and righteous people have communicated since long before the Internet and forums such as this one.

What are you thinking? In summation: you are wrong. I am right.

CFCers have made polls with pride as long as CFC has existed.

What are you thinking? In summation: I am right. You are wrong.

 

[Photi]

the use of logical fallacies in argumentation leads to untold death and destruction. the alleged meeting in germany between one of saddam's men and a suspected al-qaeda terrorist and and the subsequent exchanging of tubes between men in africa was thereafter used as the smoking gun for the invasion of iraq in march of '03 by the american imperialistic forces. imperialism clearly was the cause of this war, not freedom.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

I do it a lot to annoy people, especially those that get fired up easily.

 

[dannyshenanigan]

The only time I use logical fallacies is to counter fallacies argued againt my position; which I suppose in and of itself could at times be the logical fallacy of false analogy.

 

[El_Machinae]

I will state that all my logical fallacies were on purpose, just to be funny

(even the stupid ones that I seemed to defend for a series of posts ....)

 

[Godwynn]

I used to before I matured and learned what a logic fallacy is.

 

[Monkeyfinger]

In after someone taking bardolph's post seriously

 

[bardolph]

In after someone taking bardolph's post seriously

I have much to learn, I have found.

 

[Aramazd]

I often using fallacy by association in real life, luckily for me, my friends don't realize it's a fallacy.