Or just a plain fallacy bot. It will quote a random sentence, pick a random fallacy and get upvotes. And I'm not even joking when I say it will get upvotes.
Why are fallacies so damn popular? Any mention of logic and there's some people ready to talk about logical fallacies. Any mention of learning argument and the same links come rolling out.
My guess is the names help. Link some names to some definitions and you feel like you know something without all the effort of learning to apply a concept.
A quick reference for positive things (i.e. not a list of thou shalt not's) might help? But I suppose actually learning logic and argumentation would be too much .
[deleted] ยท 166 points ยท Posted at 13:39:37 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 224 points ยท Posted at 14:58:42 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I think the police should investigate him on the grounds of cultish behaviour.
Ruffini ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 01:22:18 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Threatening Fallacy.
StWd ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 09:17:56 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
He has been in the UK iirc
Edit and the reason he gets away with it is in UK law the onus in on victims to press charges. This is also how so many domestic abusers get away with it, the victims don't preww charges. I think there should be some way for these bastards to be charged even if their victims don't want them to be- the fact they often defend their abusers is all part of the abuse
[deleted] ยท 107 points ยท Posted at 15:36:12 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Any mention of logic and there's some people ready to talk about logical fallacies
I feel like there's a boatload of mostly dudes who feel like they're just naturally smart and are more interested in shutting down/condemning people who challenge that comfortable assumption than actually debating in a meaningful way
True, though there are many ways to be bad at arguing. I, for example, have written many argumentative papers that are complete trash but never reference any fallacies at all. Fallacy identification seems to be an especially popular species of bad argument.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 32 points ยท Posted at 01:05:40 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Why are fallacies so damn popular?
It's the easiest way to "win" an argument without having to put in any effort.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 05:39:39 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Damn, you got me, Captain Fallacy.
faguzzi ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:13:42 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
If your argument is not sound then there's nothing left to talk about. You lose. Either revise your premises or revise your line of reasoning.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 32 points ยท Posted at 14:23:39 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
But that would be the legendary fallacy fallacy, assuming that finding a fallacy in an opponent's argument is enough to write off everything else they're stating.
faguzzi ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 14:35:04 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
No. If you make a reasoning mistake your argument isn't valid.
All further statements derived from that mistake are invalid.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 23:48:24 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Whew lad, you sure got me.
-rxq ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 09:05:25 on September 7, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
OK, consider this then:
Any sum of two numbers equals 2.
1 + 1 is a sum of numbers.
Thus 1+1=2.
Obviously the first premise is completely incorrect, rendering the argument unsound. However, the conclusion is still correct. Also, the logic is still valid here iirc, if the premises were true than the conclusion would follow.
faguzzi ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:04:45 on September 7, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Notice I didn't say sound or correct. I said valid.
wotanii ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 14:20:16 on November 1, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
However, the conclusion is still correct
No.
When your premis is false, you conclusion stops being a conclusion and becomes a random statement.
From a wrong assumption, you can conclude everything. This is literally logic 101
[deleted] ยท 35 points ยท Posted at 13:31:42 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I think one of the main reasons is innocent enough; it's one of the first methods of 'debating' (for lack of a better term) people do when they start arguing (especially on the internet). The same with how arguing about religion is mostly the reserve of 15 year olds.
Mix all the booze together in a container of some sort. Then add the orange juice and drop the lemon in. Wedge the lime on the rim as some sort of garnish. I guess mix again to make the orange juice blend with the booze.
[deleted] ยท 37 points ยท Posted at 20:17:06 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I was thinking more thematically, where the drinks wouldn't even necessarily have to be mixed. So, an ad hominem could be, say, something that's deeply offensive/insulting in some way. Like using some top shelf liquor as a mixer.
I seem to remember some poster with a bunch of different fallacies/biases listed on it, briefly summarized. It always seems to pop up in niche political/philosophical/nazi forums/sub-reddits where readers are pretty much doomed to be told that their beliefs are not cool.
Aratoast ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:24:33 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
It was really popular with angry argumentative atheist types at one point. The kind of people who think they can shame people out of their religious beliefs by telling them they're committing every possible fallacy.
fkingrone ยท 96 points ยท Posted at 12:05:39 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Oh man Reddit used to be much worse a couple of years ago. I remember this fallacy crap was everywhere.
EvvLevv ยท 37 points ยท Posted at 22:04:02 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Oh lord, this reminds me of how reddit almost got to me with its fallacy identification fetish.
My freshman year of undergrad, raytheism was king on the site, so I kept seeing people throwing out all these terms for fallacies and all that. Especially in regards to theological arguments and the like. So my dumb ass thought, cluelessly, "Hey, this stuff sounds useful. I'd certainly like to be better at argumentation and debate," despite my pathological distaste for the activity. This led me to sign up for PHIL 111: Intro to Logic. Oh boy! I'd finally learn all the names of all the fallacies and how to use them to make all them illogical and irrational kiddos cry.
I show up to that first lecture hoping all my internet-fueled dreams will come true, when the professor, who must have been the long lost twin of Peter Weller, throws up examples of modus ponens and modus tollens. What the hell? Nobody told me I'd have to mind my P's and Q's!
The prof ended up being the driest lecturer I've ever had, but at least that class taught me actual formal logic. You know, shit I'd actually have to use in later classes I took, like semantics. And it certainly helped me realize just how shit "rationals" are at pretty much anything they say they're good at.
Catch the full version of this piece in the upcoming edition of Harper's.
[deleted] ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 23:43:11 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I had a similar experience, except my intro to Logic prof was like the opposite of dry. He took material most of the class wasn't interested in and actually managed to teach it in a funny, easily digestible way without diminishing it's subtlety.
One thing I remember is the way he really hammered in the valid/sound distinction by always using the most off the wall arguments possible (Justin Bieber has two heads/anyone with two heads must have blueberry jam for blood/ Justin Bieber has blueberry jam for blood) just to get us used to focusing on the way statements relate to each other, instead of whether they were remotely sane.
It made me realise that a lot of the raytheist posturing about logic ended up being ignorant of what good arguing is. Like, I wasn't out of my edgytheist phase, but it did open up the reality for me that even the most ridiculous Christian fundamentalists can still, and often do, employ logical arguments. Conversely, even the most stubborn atheist rationalists, with the Truest and Most Factual Opinions, weren't granted a free pass to being logical.
And that was one of the first steps I took toward trying to be authentically critical of things, rather than just trying to be the smartest boy on the block.
More reasons why we need to force philosophy into some science and engineering departments imo. Lol.
I like how you started downvoting then realized the depth of the abyss you're about to fall into
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 50 points ยท Posted at 12:05:57 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I down-voted in the thread I was in, and decided to take a peek onto his profile. It's pretty much page after page of the same thing...abyss almost doesn't describe it....it's like an advanced abyss...
Odditys ยท 22 points ยท Posted at 12:58:16 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
why would you go to that sub?
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 25 points ยท Posted at 13:21:16 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
See my flair. That sub is the most organic farm this side of /r/KermitThePeterson
Saved comment
kabzoer ยท 339 points ยท Posted at 12:30:22 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Someone should write a fallacy-fallacy bot.
AndreasWerckmeister ยท 302 points ยท Posted at 14:54:58 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Or just a plain fallacy bot. It will quote a random sentence, pick a random fallacy and get upvotes. And I'm not even joking when I say it will get upvotes.
reddit_goldfairy ยท 176 points ยท Posted at 21:06:06 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
"It will qoute a random sentenxe, pick a random fallacy and get upvotes"
Sharpshooter fallacy
tensaiteki19 ยท 33 points ยท Posted at 02:23:48 on October 17, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
"Bader-Meinhoff fallacy"
x23 gold, Nobel peace prize, receives the key to reddit
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 59 points ยท Posted at 12:32:17 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Dear god yes
supergodsuperfuck ยท 219 points ยท Posted at 13:00:45 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Why are fallacies so damn popular? Any mention of logic and there's some people ready to talk about logical fallacies. Any mention of learning argument and the same links come rolling out.
My guess is the names help. Link some names to some definitions and you feel like you know something without all the effort of learning to apply a concept.
A quick reference for positive things (i.e. not a list of thou shalt not's) might help? But I suppose actually learning logic and argumentation would be too much .
[deleted] ยท 166 points ยท Posted at 13:39:37 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 224 points ยท Posted at 14:58:42 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
YOU ACTIVATED MY TRAP FALLACY
some_philosopher ยท 64 points ยท Posted at 15:33:37 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
To win a logical argument, you have to trust in the heart of the fallacy.
Ruffini ยท 26 points ยท Posted at 01:22:36 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Faith Fallacy.
Nylongu1999 ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 04:12:25 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Ben Stiller Fallacy.
-KASPER- ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 15:43:16 on September 8, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Is that the fallacy of not believing the Middle East should be nuked, or the fallacy of thinking god does real?
[deleted] ยท 8 points ยท Posted at 08:12:21 on September 18, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
It's time to D-D-D-D-D-D-D-Debate!
IlIlIlIlIllIIII ยท 30 points ยท Posted at 20:26:12 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I coached that out of my high schoolers a long time ago, but the new ones still like itโprobably because it's easier than making arguments.
Ruffini ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 01:21:42 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Abusive fallacy.
torso2kovsky ยท 53 points ยท Posted at 13:44:40 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Molyneux is more to blame than hs. from what i've seen at least.
IamDaEmper0r ยท 22 points ยท Posted at 22:06:36 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I think the police should investigate him on the grounds of cultish behaviour.
Ruffini ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 01:22:18 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Threatening Fallacy.
StWd ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 09:17:56 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
He has been in the UK iirc
Edit and the reason he gets away with it is in UK law the onus in on victims to press charges. This is also how so many domestic abusers get away with it, the victims don't preww charges. I think there should be some way for these bastards to be charged even if their victims don't want them to be- the fact they often defend their abusers is all part of the abuse
[deleted] ยท 107 points ยท Posted at 15:36:12 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I feel like there's a boatload of mostly dudes who feel like they're just naturally smart and are more interested in shutting down/condemning people who challenge that comfortable assumption than actually debating in a meaningful way
supergodsuperfuck ยท 61 points ยท Posted at 15:40:15 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Agreed. They're also the ones who are concerned with winning arguments.
lootingyourfridge ยท 31 points ยท Posted at 22:18:05 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
And also the ones unconcerned with actually learning.
max_sil ยท 33 points ยท Posted at 17:10:19 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Because you don't have to know anything about what you're arguing , and you don't have to be skilled at arguing
supergodsuperfuck ยท 18 points ยท Posted at 17:58:05 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
True, though there are many ways to be bad at arguing. I, for example, have written many argumentative papers that are complete trash but never reference any fallacies at all. Fallacy identification seems to be an especially popular species of bad argument.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 32 points ยท Posted at 01:05:40 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
It's the easiest way to "win" an argument without having to put in any effort.
Nylongu1999 ยท 30 points ยท Posted at 05:15:50 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Effort Fallacy.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 05:39:39 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Damn, you got me, Captain Fallacy.
faguzzi ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:13:42 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
If your argument is not sound then there's nothing left to talk about. You lose. Either revise your premises or revise your line of reasoning.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 32 points ยท Posted at 14:23:39 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
But that would be the legendary fallacy fallacy, assuming that finding a fallacy in an opponent's argument is enough to write off everything else they're stating.
faguzzi ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 14:35:04 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
No. If you make a reasoning mistake your argument isn't valid.
All further statements derived from that mistake are invalid.
Ua_Tsaug ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 23:48:24 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Whew lad, you sure got me.
-rxq ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 09:05:25 on September 7, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
OK, consider this then:
Any sum of two numbers equals 2.
1 + 1 is a sum of numbers.
Thus 1+1=2.
Obviously the first premise is completely incorrect, rendering the argument unsound. However, the conclusion is still correct. Also, the logic is still valid here iirc, if the premises were true than the conclusion would follow.
faguzzi ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:04:45 on September 7, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Notice I didn't say sound or correct. I said valid.
wotanii ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 14:20:16 on November 1, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
No.
When your premis is false, you conclusion stops being a conclusion and becomes a random statement.
From a wrong assumption, you can conclude everything. This is literally logic 101
[deleted] ยท 35 points ยท Posted at 13:31:42 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I think one of the main reasons is innocent enough; it's one of the first methods of 'debating' (for lack of a better term) people do when they start arguing (especially on the internet). The same with how arguing about religion is mostly the reserve of 15 year olds.
LithiumEnergy ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 08:49:56 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
When I whip out a fallacy name it's because it's actually important for furthering knowledge and understanding, not to 'win' arguments.
supergodsuperfuck ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 11:39:49 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I've yet to see a fallacy name further knowledge and understanding. They're shorthands.
LithiumEnergy ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 11:56:47 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
No I meant as in correcting that person would actually be a useful thing
supergodsuperfuck ยท 16 points ยท Posted at 13:50:49 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Yes. Explaining why the reasoning is poor is good. Shouting the name of a fallacy doesn't do anyone much good.
[deleted] ยท 144 points ยท Posted at 15:23:07 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I checked this guy's profile out for myself, and it's pretty insane. This is the most ridiculous exchange I spotted:
That has to be the most niggling strawman accusation I've ever seen.
lootingyourfridge ยท 41 points ยท Posted at 22:22:53 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I think this raised my blood pressure a bit tbh.
Ruffini ยท 45 points ยท Posted at 01:23:39 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Physiological Fallacy.
Ruffini ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 01:23:28 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Abusive Fallacy.
giziti ยท 120 points ยท Posted at 16:54:22 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Remember, the first step to being a good philosopher is memorizing a giant list of logical fallacies.
l-Ashery-l ยท 51 points ยท Posted at 17:32:29 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I mean, it'd be an excellent place to start were logical fallacies to become euphemisms for various alcoholic drinks.
supergodsuperfuck ยท 45 points ยท Posted at 19:56:19 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I like this idea.
I also have no idea how to make cocktails. Um.
The Ad Hominem
Mix all the booze together in a container of some sort. Then add the orange juice and drop the lemon in. Wedge the lime on the rim as some sort of garnish. I guess mix again to make the orange juice blend with the booze.
[deleted] ยท 37 points ยท Posted at 20:17:06 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
The Fallacy of the Inverse
Poor 1 bottle of choice liquor onto table
Set empty glass onto liquor puddle
supergodsuperfuck ยท 50 points ยท Posted at 20:41:03 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
No True Scotsman
michgot ยท 24 points ยท Posted at 01:37:14 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Poisoning the Well
Acquire drink of choice.
Pour bleach.
supergodsuperfuck ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 14:18:32 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Affirming the Consequent
Get a hangover.
Add liquor.
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 23:38:17 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Just a lemon? No prep, no juicing? Just an unpeeled lemon sat in the drink.
We're either drinking that from the world's biggest coupe glass, or a bowl.
Edit: AND a lime?! Dear God...
supergodsuperfuck ยท 8 points ยท Posted at 23:44:46 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Shit, I was thinking a lemon slice. And a lime slice.
Fuck it. Get the bowl.
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 23:45:40 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
It's fine. I'd count forcing a lemon and a lime down my throat as a personal attack, so I guess it fits!
Saji__Crossroad ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 03:10:05 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Like, on the side, or just sprinkled in there?
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 10:19:55 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Hah! My mistake but I'm sure we can serve a line on a tray with it.
You get Richard Dawkins' business card to cut it up with. Gives you the authentic experience of being in his shoes ;)
DieLichtung ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 11:33:02 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
My god he even has the authentic, british, crooked teeth.
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 11 points ยท Posted at 00:10:23 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Poisoning the well fallacy
1) mix equal parts vodka and vermouth
2) Shake over ice until part diluted
3) pour into Martini glass (it is a vodkatini after all)
4) Throw in shot of green absinthe when patron least expects
[deleted] ยท 13 points ยท Posted at 21:18:31 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
there's an awful lot of not-alcohol in that drink
supergodsuperfuck ยท 8 points ยท Posted at 23:45:56 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
The orange juice can be swapped out for gin.
[deleted] ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 02:39:52 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
[deleted]
supergodsuperfuck ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 14:20:03 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Alcoholism Fallacy
Buy a cheap handle of shitty vodka.
Hide it in a water bottle or something.
Put on some body spray to cover the smell.
Cry deeply.
Drink the vodka.
l-Ashery-l ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 20:20:57 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I was thinking more thematically, where the drinks wouldn't even necessarily have to be mixed. So, an ad hominem could be, say, something that's deeply offensive/insulting in some way. Like using some top shelf liquor as a mixer.
supergodsuperfuck ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 20:39:56 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I figured the onslaught of that much liquor balanced by only a little citrus would be offensive to the mouth.
consumerist_scum ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 23:15:13 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
then chug it
supergodsuperfuck ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 23:45:05 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Or whip it across the room at someone.
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 22 points ยท Posted at 16:54:51 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I mean, hey, it's what Aristotle did ;)
Ruffini ยท 14 points ยท Posted at 01:24:10 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Appeal to Authority Fallacy
fivefortythree ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 20:48:26 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I seem to remember some poster with a bunch of different fallacies/biases listed on it, briefly summarized. It always seems to pop up in niche political/philosophical/nazi forums/sub-reddits where readers are pretty much doomed to be told that their beliefs are not cool.
Aratoast ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 18:24:33 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
It was really popular with angry argumentative atheist types at one point. The kind of people who think they can shame people out of their religious beliefs by telling them they're committing every possible fallacy.
fkingrone ยท 96 points ยท Posted at 12:05:39 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Oh man Reddit used to be much worse a couple of years ago. I remember this fallacy crap was everywhere.
iOnlyWantUgone ยท 85 points ยท Posted at 14:24:18 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Genetic Fallacy
[deleted] ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 06:29:59 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Actually that is a Reddit Is A Fuck Fallacy
AlexiusWyman ยท 151 points ยท Posted at 11:32:16 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
You've hid his username, but we know who he really is.
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 89 points ยท Posted at 11:37:32 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
So his Kryptonite must be...
[deleted] ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 16:35:27 on October 13, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
this was amazing
ikankecil ยท 38 points ยท Posted at 12:06:24 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Fallacy fallacy!
Ruffini ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 01:24:22 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Fallacy Fallacy Fallacy.
Nylongu1999 ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 05:16:52 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Cube Fallacy.
RubiconGuava ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 05:28:55 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Phallus-y
EvvLevv ยท 37 points ยท Posted at 22:04:02 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Oh lord, this reminds me of how reddit almost got to me with its fallacy identification fetish.
My freshman year of undergrad, raytheism was king on the site, so I kept seeing people throwing out all these terms for fallacies and all that. Especially in regards to theological arguments and the like. So my dumb ass thought, cluelessly, "Hey, this stuff sounds useful. I'd certainly like to be better at argumentation and debate," despite my pathological distaste for the activity. This led me to sign up for PHIL 111: Intro to Logic. Oh boy! I'd finally learn all the names of all the fallacies and how to use them to make all them illogical and irrational kiddos cry.
I show up to that first lecture hoping all my internet-fueled dreams will come true, when the professor, who must have been the long lost twin of Peter Weller, throws up examples of modus ponens and modus tollens. What the hell? Nobody told me I'd have to mind my P's and Q's!
The prof ended up being the driest lecturer I've ever had, but at least that class taught me actual formal logic. You know, shit I'd actually have to use in later classes I took, like semantics. And it certainly helped me realize just how shit "rationals" are at pretty much anything they say they're good at.
Catch the full version of this piece in the upcoming edition of Harper's.
[deleted] ยท 21 points ยท Posted at 23:43:11 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I had a similar experience, except my intro to Logic prof was like the opposite of dry. He took material most of the class wasn't interested in and actually managed to teach it in a funny, easily digestible way without diminishing it's subtlety.
One thing I remember is the way he really hammered in the valid/sound distinction by always using the most off the wall arguments possible (Justin Bieber has two heads/anyone with two heads must have blueberry jam for blood/ Justin Bieber has blueberry jam for blood) just to get us used to focusing on the way statements relate to each other, instead of whether they were remotely sane.
It made me realise that a lot of the raytheist posturing about logic ended up being ignorant of what good arguing is. Like, I wasn't out of my edgytheist phase, but it did open up the reality for me that even the most ridiculous Christian fundamentalists can still, and often do, employ logical arguments. Conversely, even the most stubborn atheist rationalists, with the Truest and Most Factual Opinions, weren't granted a free pass to being logical.
And that was one of the first steps I took toward trying to be authentically critical of things, rather than just trying to be the smartest boy on the block.
More reasons why we need to force philosophy into some science and engineering departments imo. Lol.
alexisnothere ยท 58 points ยท Posted at 12:04:32 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I like how you started downvoting then realized the depth of the abyss you're about to fall into
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 50 points ยท Posted at 12:05:57 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I down-voted in the thread I was in, and decided to take a peek onto his profile. It's pretty much page after page of the same thing...abyss almost doesn't describe it....it's like an advanced abyss...
Odditys ยท 22 points ยท Posted at 12:58:16 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
why would you go to that sub?
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 25 points ยท Posted at 13:21:16 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
See my flair. That sub is the most organic farm this side of /r/KermitThePeterson
DieLichtung ยท 16 points ยท Posted at 15:39:18 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 15 points ยท Posted at 15:40:27 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Is it not? Or is it
DieLichtung ยท 12 points ยท Posted at 15:41:48 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 18 points ยท Posted at 15:42:39 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
:O
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 12:11:41 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Fixed my flair :P Only just realized...
DieLichtung ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 12:21:23 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
We will overlook this error this time.
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 12:22:14 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
There but for the grace of Mod go I
[deleted] ยท 26 points ยท Posted at 15:38:05 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
This is the future A.J. Ayer wanted. Fucking kill me.
Shitgenstein ยท 6 points ยท Posted at 03:20:29 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
drrocket8775 ยท 1 points ยท Posted at 15:17:21 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
"Watch out bucko"
Shitgenstein ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 15:44:01 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
In the moment of the video that still is from, Ayer is being introduced quite kindly by Bryan Magee, so more just Ayer's epic rbf.
-KASPER- ยท 23 points ยท Posted at 11:33:02 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Ad hominem fallacy!!!
IHeartFaye ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 18:19:43 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
This guy probably carries a pocketbook of fallacies everywhere he goes
Japicx ยท 7 points ยท Posted at 00:23:26 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
I thought it was just an old wives' tale!
๐๏ธ Rope_Dragon ยท 5 points ยท Posted at 00:29:25 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
The kind that logicians tell to scare their kids...that the fallacy man waits for just a moment's weakness...
Then BAM argument lost!
CoolNiceMike ยท 4 points ยท Posted at 22:57:47 on September 5, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
What's an abusive fallacy? Why wouldn't he want to gain smart man points by using the fancy Latin name?
666math ยท 2 points ยท Posted at 06:25:57 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Same as ad hominem
CoolNiceMike ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 06:42:46 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Where's his smart man points tho? Impressive latin name > all
666math ยท 3 points ยท Posted at 11:35:43 on September 6, 2017 ยท (Permalink)
Greek is better: "pros ton anthropon"