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Great idea, looks really good. On the rational thinking topic: is there a name for the fallacy where you say something along the lines of "someone in group X wo
by seanwilson 6y ago
Great idea, looks really good. On the rational thinking topic: is there a name for the fallacy where you say something along the lines of "someone in group X would probably say Y and that's wrong because..."? X could be something like vegans, democrats or climate change deniers.
It's probably just a special case of a straw man argument but I see this often online and in the news to lure in replies and create outrage. It's hard to diffuse as nobody in the discussion will actually hold the set of views being presented. I usually want to reply "wait, who is actually making this statement that you're attacking?".
- samsquire 6y agoIsn't that an appeal to authority? Or at least an appeal to widely held belief.
- aerovistae 6y agoIt's just a strawman. If they're attacking an argument nobody made, it's a strawman. I would agree it was different if you meant they're attacking an argument that group X actually would make, but in that case I don't think it's a fallacy at all.
- exo-pla-net 6y agoWhen both a viewpoint and an opponent are fabricated, you have a Hollow Man argument. https://fs.blog/2020/05/bad-arguments/ https://fs.blog/2020/05/bad-arguments/
- seanwilson 6y agoThanks, that sounds like it! > A hollow man argument is similar to a straw man one. The difference is that it is a weak case attributed to a non-existent group. Someone will fabricate a viewpoint that is easy to refute, then claim it was made by a group they disagree with. Arguing against an opponent which doesn’t exist is a pretty easy way to win any debate. People who use hollow man arguments will often favor vague, non-specific language without explicitly giving any sources or stating who their opponent is.
- tomcatfish 6y agoAre you referring to a real belief held by fringe members? That is commonly called "weak man" in circles where it is discussed frequently, as a variant of the "straw man" that is real.