FALLACY OF DIVERSION

GARCIA, Mary Grace J. PONCE, Jozelle Marie N.

FALLACY OF DIVERSION
lead the discussion away from the issues by directing it elsewhere committed when one changes the issue in the middle of an argument to make the audience forget the point or become unwilling to consider it

FALLACY OF DIVERSION
in order to avoid defeat one sidesteps the issue to win on a different ground Devices: resorting to humor, bringing up irrelevant material, interrupting thought with protests or questions

Example 1
Since Senator Coulthard wants to decrease defense spending, And this would fail to support our troops in the Middle East, And weaken our military position around the world, And we would not be able to keep our commitments abroad, Because we would become a second-rate military power, [and since we should support our troops and should not weaken our military position around the world,](implicit moral premise) And we should keep our commitments abroad,] (implicit moral premise) [Therefore, we should not adopt the senators proposal.] (implicit conclusion)

Example 2
MARCIA: Unless we build a power plant in this area within the next ten years, we wont be able to meet the significantly growing demand for electrical power.

DAVID: What youre saying is that you couldnt care less what happens to the plant life and wildlife area or even to human lives that might be dislocated by the building of this dam.

Example 3
"I fail to see why hunting should be considered cruel when it gives tremendous pleasure to many people and employment to even more." So we should stop talking about cruelty and start talking about pleasure and employment?

Example 4
Christianity is the only true religion: It has clearly been of great help to many people."

No matter how well he argues how much it has helped people, he will not have shown that Christian teachings are true.

Example 5
"It is very clear that we prescribe psycho-active medications to people who dont really need them. We should outlaw these drugs altogether!"

RED-HERRING
-When you introduce an irrelevant issue into the debate to divert your opponent or audience from the original issue

Example
You know, I've begun to think that there is some merit in the Conservatives tax cut plan. I suggest that you come up with something like it, because if we Liberals are going to survive as a party, we have got to show that we are as tough-minded as they are, since thats what the public wants.

STRAW MAN ARGUMENT

-misrepresent your opponents position, and then proceed to argue against the distortion you yourself created

EXAMPLE
"Senator Jones says that we should not fund the attack submarine program. I disagree entirely. I can't understand why he wants to leave us defenseless like that."