We all think werepretty smart.
Most of us dont realize that someone smart, funny, and pretty isnt interested in us.
Because we are, in fact, spectacularly stupid.
via apenglish3period8.wikispaces.com
Its not our fault, were mere meat.
Sadly, meat isnt good at critical thinking.
Start an argument with someone and youll quickly start making stupid mistakes.
Because were wired to win, to protect our ego and outlook.
Were built to fight dirty, and that aint pretty.
It means we do a lot of dumb things.
The stupidest things we do are what is known as logical fallacies.
These are all things we do during an argument, discussion, or meeting of the minds.
They are each mistakes that look like reason on the surface.
But they arent logic.
These arent rational arguments.
Theyre wrongheaded, manipulative, emotional moves that we all make.
Each one is designed to derail a fight, not win a contest based on merits and intellect.
The assumption is that if you discredit the source, you discredit the point.
Even a completely wrong person can make a valid point.
Automatically attacking someone, rather than the idea they present, shows you cant counteract their idea.
This is often the opposite of an Ad Hominem attack.
This is often what happens when someone points to their job as evidence.
I think I would know.
After all, I am an attorney.
doesnt actually mean anything.
That doesnt add validity to their argument.
A bad idea is a bad idea no matter who it comes from.
Agree with me or Ill hurt you is how this argument is phrased.
Sometimes it isnt that direct, such as Love god or youll go to hell.
Speaking in Totality
This is a simple mistake to spot.
The most obvious being: This person is making a point with grandiose language.
This is essentially peer pressure to join with everyone else.
It doesnt make an argument better to say more people do it.
It dovetails with speaking in totality by notions like if youre not with us, youre against us.
As if there are only two sides.
Nature vs. Nurture is a good example of a fake dichotomy.
Plus, theres many factors outside of the two diametrically opposed forces.
Fear is another that comes up frequently.
These assume zero sum games where you must be subtracting from one side to feed the other.
The world is bigger than that.
Why not believe in the Dharma?
No one knows it doesnt work.
Not knowing about God or Hell or aliens doesnt mean any of the above are or are not true.
Pointing at nothing and saying it means something is nothing short of insane.
Yet, we do it all the time.
Circular Reasoning
Most arguments between couples fall into this category.
Here, youre using your own logic to support your argument in an endless cycle.
It works well with arguing from confusion.
If you wouldnt do X I wouldnt do Y.
And you wouldnt do X if I didnt do Y. is one of the most common arguments.
It absolves the person of responsibility, constantly referring back to another idea.
Allah is real because the Koran says so, and the Koran says so because it is true.
One thing points forever to another, creating a loop.
Confusing Correlation with Causation
Many things happen all at the same time.
Sometimes one thing causes another.
It snows, and the ground gets wet.
Thats one thing causing another.
However, assuming that one thing leads to another isnt always correct, which is where superstition comes from.
Meat is not murder is an example of a straw man argument.
Eating meat is still killing another creature for food.
Merely because it isnt killing one of your own kind doesnt make it less of a slaughter.
It merely means most of the human race is on board with ignoring the bloodshed.
The drug saves lives!
Youre speaking partial truths with this one, which is another name for it.
The goal is to distract or change the narrative, since youre unable to make your point.
Quick subject changes such as Forget about our issues.
Look at Dave and Shelia!
Those people are really a mess!
stops a fight and redirects it.
Hoping no one will notice.
And then all the laws will disappear.
