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Appeal to Ridicule

Learn about appeal to ridicule, a logical fallacy that distorts opponents' arguments to appear absurd. Explore examples from debates and literature.

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Appeal to Ridicule

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  1. Appeal to Ridicule Appeal to Ridicule is a logical fallacy that presents the opponent’s argument in a way that appears ridiculous, often to the extent of creating a straw man of the actual argument, rather than addressing the argument itself. -Appeal to Ridicule can refer to mocking the opponents argument, maturity, or logic, but does not necessarily have to be funny. Curtis, Gary. Virginia.edu. Fallacy Files, 2007. Web. 13 April 2011.

  2. Universal Example: • “The theory of evolution says we came from apes. That's CRAZY!” • The speaker here is ridiculing the theory of Evolution by saying that it is “crazy.” Thus, the speaker is implying that the theory is false. n.p. Freethoughtpedia.com. Freethoughtpedia, 17 July 2009. Web. 13 April 2011.

  3. Danforth commits a fallacy appealing to ridicule when arguing with Giles in court. • Giles: “This is a hearing; you cannot clap me for contempt of hearing.” Danforth: “Of it is a proper lawyer! Do you wish me to declare the court in full session here? Or will you give me a good reply?” Act 3, page 214 This appeals to ridicule because it is a form of mockery. Danforth is mocking Giles because he thinks he knows the court better than himself.

  4. Proctor commits a fallacy when arguing with Parris about the poppet. • Parris: “Why could there not have been poppets hid where no one ever saw them?” Proctor: “There might be a dragon with five legs in my house but no one has ever seen it.” Act 3, page 217 This is appeal to ridicule because Proctor is pointing out that Parris’ argument is as ridiculous as a dragon being in his house.

  5. Proctor commits a fallacy appealing to ridicule when arguing with Parris. • Parris: “Man! Don’t a minister deserve a house to live in?” Proctor: “To live in, yes. But to ask ownership is like you shall own the meeting house itself, the last meeting I were at you spoke so long on deeds and mortgages I thought it were an auction.” Act 1, page 181 This is appeal to ridicule because Proctor is ridiculing Parris on the way he teaches his church and that’s why he doesn’t go.

  6. Proctor commits a fallacy appealing to ridicule when arguing on the way Parris teaches his church. • Proctor: “…But Parris came, and for twenty week he preach nothin’ but golden candlesticks until he had them…the man dreams cathedrals, not clap board meetin’ houses.” Act 2, page 198 This is appeal to ridicule because Proctor is ridiculing Parris for being too concerned with the way his church looks rather than the content he preaches.

  7. Spagnoli, Filip. Wordpress.com. Wordpress, 2008. Web. 13 April 2011.

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