Consider the following statements:
- A black cat ran in front of me on my way to work, and when I got to work, I found out I'd lost a big account.
- Tiger Woods was unfaithful to his wife, which proves you can't trust golfers.
- All lawyers are crooks!
What do these statements have in common? They are all fallacies-conclusions reached through faulty reasoning. Unfortunately, fallacies are a common practice and can quickly derail otherwise logical arguments. The more you study critical thinking, the more you realize it is not often practiced by society at large. TV advertisements, news commentators, and politicians all use illogical arguments or twisted "facts" to persuade others to accept their point of view. The critical thinker, however, asks, "Is this true?"
Fallacies at the centerpiece of an argument greatly reduced its value. In the following scenario, I need help getting to try your hand at identifying a variety of fallacies.The marketing manager has proposed the following as the new advertising campaign. As you read it, identify at least three different types of fallacies, which you will use
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As you formulate your initial contemplate the following statements and questions about fallacies and incorporate them into your writing as you formulate your response. Evidence of your reasoning will be a component of your weekly Discussion grade.
- Can a person or organization be believed and trusted as an authority without investigation or evidence? Explain your answer. Are there any circumstances in which readers do not need to carefully assess whether or not fallacies are present?
- If you found out that the reasoning behind a long-practiced and cherished management belief was faulty, would you abandon it? What would you do if your organization continued to support the belief?