386 17.2 Using PersUasive strategies
Avoiding Faulty Reasoning
We have emphasized the importance of developing sound, logical arguments
supported with appropriate evidence. You have an ethical responsibility to use
your skill to construct arguments that are well supported with logical reason-
ing and sound evidence. Unfortunately, not all people who try to persuade
you will use sound arguments to get you to vote for them, buy their product,
or donate money to their cause. Many persuaders use inappropriate techniques
called fallacies. A fallacy is false reasoning that occurs when someone attempts
to persuade without adequate evidence or with arguments that are irrelevant or
inappropriate. You will be both a better and more ethical speaker and a better
listener if you are aware of the following fallacies.Causal FallaCy The Latin term for the causal fallacy is post hoc, ergo propter
hoc, which translates as “after this, therefore, because of this.” A causal fallacy
involves making a faulty causal connection. Simply because one event fol-
lows another does not mean that the two are related. If you declared that your
school’s football team won this time because you sang your school song before
the game, you would be guilty of a causal fallacy. There are undoubtedly other
factors that explain why your team won, such as good preparation or facing a
weaker opposing team. For something to be a cause, it has to have the power to
bring about a result. “That howling storm last night knocked down the tree in
our backyard” is a logical causal explanation for the noise that disturbed your
sleep and the mess you found in the morning.
Here are more examples of causal fallacies:
The increased earthquake and hurricane activity is caused by the increase
in violence and war in our society.
As long as you wear this lucky rabbit’s foot, you will never have an auto-
mobile accident.
In each instance, there is not enough evidence to support the cause-and-
effect conclusion.banDwagon FallaCy Someone who argues that “everybody thinks it’s a
good idea, so you should too” is using the bandwagon fallacy. Simply because
“everyone” is “jumping on the bandwagon,” or supporting a particular point
of view, does not make the point of view correct. Sometimes speakers use the
bandwagon fallacy in more subtle ways in their efforts to persuade:
Everybody knows that talk radio is our primary link to a free and demo-
cratic society.
Most people agree that we spend too much time worrying about the future
of Medicare.
Beware of sweeping statements that include you and others without offer-
ing any evidence that the speaker has solicited opinions.