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Straw Man Fallacies . By Mary Rannells & Kylie Withrow. Definition . Straw Man: Arguments set up and often dismantle easily refutable arguments in order to misrepresent an opponent’s argument in order to defeat him or her
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Straw Man Fallacies By Mary Rannells & Kylie Withrow
Definition • Straw Man: Arguments set up and often dismantle easily refutable arguments in order to misrepresent an opponent’s argument in order to defeat him or her • In other words… Twisting another’s words to make their argument sound weaker than it actually is.
In everyday life.. During the last presidential election, the Republican party pretty much built an entire day centered around an out- of- text quote from Obama. Obama had talked about infrastructure and how business owners couldn’t have created things such as roads community centers and bridges. The GOP manipulated his words to insist the idea that our president doesn’t believe that business owners built their businesses themselves.
Think About It Fallacy- Straw man Character committing- Mary Warren Quote- “ Aye, but when Judge Hathorne say, “Recite for us your commandments!”… and of all the ten she could not say a single one. She never knew no commandments, and they had her in a flat lie!” Problem? Mary Warren condemns Sarah Good for being a witch solely because she can’t say her commandments. Just because someone can’t recite the commandments verbatim doesn't mean that they’re a witch. Mary Warren twists Sarah’s actions around to make her seem much worse than she actually is.
Think About it Fallacy- Straw Man Character- Danforth Quote- “ I tell you true, woman, had I no other proof of your unnatural life, your eyes now would be sufficient evidence that you delivered up your soul to Hell! A very ape would weep at such calamity! Have the devil dried up any tear of pity in you?” Problem? Danforth tells Elizabeth that since she doesn’t seem to be upset about her husbands execution, that the devil must be with her. Well, no. Elizabeth isnt showing emotion because she wants her husband to do as he pleases and whatever he decides to do- whether he confess or not- she will let him do. Danforth makes Elizabeth makes her out to be much worse than she really is. Just because she isn’t crying for her husband doesn’t mean that she is working with the devil.
Works Cited • http://www.neontommy.com/news/2012/09/top-five-negative-presidential-campaign-ads