Using Logic and evidence to Persuade 17.2 387
eIther/or FallaCy Someone who argues that there are only two ap-
proaches to a problem is trying to oversimplify the issue by using the either/
or fallacy. “It’s either vote for higher property taxes or close the library,” as-
serts Daryl at a public hearing on tax increases. Such a statement ignores all
other possible solutions to a complex problem. When you hear someone sim-
plifying all available options by saying it’s either this or that, you should be
on guard for the either/or fallacy. Rarely is any issue as simple as a choice be-
tween two alternatives. The following are examples of inappropriate either/
or reasoning:
Either we make sure that television violence is reduced or we will have an
increase in child and spouse abuse.
Either more people start volunteering their time to work for this commu-
nity or your taxes will increase.hasty generalIzatIon A person who reaches a conclusion from too little
evidence or nonexistent evidence is making a hasty generalization. For exam-
ple, that one person became ill after eating the meat loaf in the cafeteria does not
mean that everyone eating in the cafeteria will develop food poisoning. Here are
some additional hasty generalizations:
It’s clear that our schools can’t educate children well—my niece went to
school for six years and she still can’t read at her grade level.
The city does a terrible job of taking care of the elderly—my grandmother
lives in a city-owned nursing home, and the floors there are always filthy.aD homInem Also known as attacking the person, an ad hominem (Latin
for “to the man”) approach involves attacking irrelevant characteristics of the
person who is proposing an idea rather than attacking the idea itself. A state-
ment such as “We know Janice’s idea won’t work because she has never had
a good idea yet” does not really deal with the idea, which may be valid. Don’t
dismiss an idea solely because you have been turned against the person who
presented it. Here are examples of ad hominem attacks:
She was educated in a foreign county and could not possibly have good
ideas for improving education in our community.
Tony is an awful musician and is not sensitive enough to chair the parking
committee.reD herrIng The red herring fallacy is used when someone attacks an is-
sue by using irrelevant facts or arguments as distractions. This fallacy gets its
name from an old trick of dragging a red herring across a trail to divert any dogs
that may be following. Speakers use a red herring when they want to distract an
audience from the real issues. For example, a politician who has been accused
of taking bribes while in office calls a press conference. During the press confer-
ence, he talks about the evils of child pornography rather than addressing the