Critical Thinking: Logical Fallacies

Paper Summary:

Effective decision making is contingent on an individual's ability to examine the soundness of arguments. In other words, it is important for decision makers in all walks of life and at all levels to be able to identify logical fallacies. This paper explores the significance of three such common tricks of persuasion to critical thinking and decision making. The three tricks or logical fallacies are 'two wrongs make a right,' appeal to force, and 'straw man'.

From the Paper:

"The argumentum ad baculum or appeal to force fallacy occurs when arguments literally use a stick to win a point. In other words, the appeal to force amounts to resorting to the use of threats against an opponent who refuses to accept one's viewpoint. Such threats are usually issued indirectly or by implication, and are often preceded by an assurance that no pressure is being applied (Blair et.al, 1996, p. 68). This type of fallacious argument is very commonly used in politics as well as business. So, when President Kennedy said to President Khrushchev, If you don't remove your nuclear missiles from Cuba, then we will have no choice but to remove them by force."

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