Logical Fallacies in Business Reporting Analytical Essay by Calwriter

Although the reporting of facts and figures is often thought of as an objective science, quite frequently even business reporting is characterized by logical fallacies, including but not limited to, appeals to ignorance, hasty generalizations, and ad hominem attacks. This paper argues that these logical fallacies are particularly common and pernicious in business reporting because of the frequently technically complex nature of the subject matter in regards to facts and figures, combined with the emotional texture of business reporting that involves the fabric and texture of individual lives. The paper shows that reporters wish to attract attention and render complexities comprehensible, but frequently fall into logically fallacious traps to accomplish these objectives. The paper provides examples from business reports to elaborate on the ideas.