Category Archives: Argument Analysis

A catch all category for posts which analyze arguments without diagnosing specific failures of logic.

Sometimes ad hominem is warranted

Posted on 1/15/2013 by Scott Aikin

Phil Plait’s got a serious take-down of the recent claim that there’s been a meteorite found that has diatom fossils in it (at Salon).  Plait’s case is along a few lines: (1) that the rock doesn’t look like it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad Hominem, Ad Hominem Abusive, Argument Analysis | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Makers and takers

Posted on 8/12/2012 by Scott Aikin

Paul Ryan is Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential choice.  As a consequence, there's been a good bit of attention paid to Ryan's much-touted appreciation of Ayn Rand.  One edge is to criticize Randian economic policy.  Another edge is to ask whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad hominem tu quoque, Argument Analysis, Argument from Double Standards, Argument from Inconsistency | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Scare quoque

Posted on 8/10/2011 by Scott Aikin

Mallard Fillmore's recent take on the President's rhetorical strategies: This is an argument about arguments — namely, that scare tactics are bad, but it's worse to be a hypocrite about using them.  So the score tally goes:  Republicans -1 for … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad hominem tu quoque, Appeal to Fear/Threat, Argument Analysis, Argument from Double Standards, Argument from Inconsistency, Specious allegations of fallacy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Of aphorisms and neat language

Posted on 7/27/2011 by Scott Aikin

Roger Scruton thinks the art of the aphorism in in decline among American English speakers.  [W]hen they do talk, it is in an outpouring, in the belief that one person's language is as good as any other's. Bon mots, aphorisms, … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Fallacy Exercise

Posted on 6/16/2011 by Scott Aikin

Alright readers of the NonSequitur, I have an exercise for you.  John and I have had a few laughs with the following form of joke: employ a fallacy in giving an argument against using that fallacy.  It's funny.  Here are … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis, General discussion, Logic | 13 Comments

Funny fallacy fallacy

Posted on 5/26/2011 by Colin Anderson

From Slate: This is not even a straw man; it's some loose straw the writer is throwing in the air while yelling "Look at that man!" Funny line, but it may be that it's not a straw man, because it's … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis, Argument from Double Standards, Argument Schemes, General discussion, Specious allegations of fallacy, Straw Man | Leave a comment

Not All Rhetorical Questions Deserve Equal Consideration

Posted on 5/24/2011 by Colin Anderson

As we learn from the media, we must try always to criticize both sides of an issue equally. Now, this will not be the full parity treatment–I'd have to find a billboard from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis, Argument from Inconsistency, Argument Schemes, General discussion, Good Arguments | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Your wife or a snake?

Posted on 5/23/2011 by Colin Anderson

Critics of anti-speciesist arguments, like presumably the Foundation for Biomedical Research in my previous post, often fall back onto simplified hypothetical moral situations in order, typically, to elicit an inconsistency in the opponent's belief sets or between their beliefs and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad hominem tu quoque, Argument Analysis, Argument from Inconsistency, Argument Schemes, Fallacies of ambiguity, General discussion, Good Arguments | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fallacies for Biomedical Research

Posted on 5/22/2011 by Colin Anderson

The Foundation for Biomedical Research, an advocacy and lobbying organization for biomedical industries has been dumbing down the public discourse around the use of animals in medical research with bill-boards in several cities. ABCNews has the story http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Drugs/animal-research-billboards-pit-cute-girl-lab-rat/story?id=13371007 (ABCNEWS) Now, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ad hominem tu quoque, Argument Analysis, Argument from Inconsistency, Argument Schemes, Fallacies and Other Problems | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ron Paul’s analogical reasoning

Posted on 5/15/2011 by Scott Aikin

In the comments on the previous post, NashvilleBrian suggested we take a look at Ron Paul's argument that the SEAL raid to kill OBL was 'absolutely not necessary.'  It all sounded very much like the Ron Paul who impressed me … Continue reading →

Posted in Argument Analysis, Good Arguments, Weak Analogy | Tagged , , | 6 Comments