Fallacy Of The Straw Man

Some discussions can get really exhausting. Often, instead of using rational arguments or sticking to facts, our “verbal opponents” use arguments that are not credible or that appeal to emotions rather than reason. One of the most common is the so-called “puppet argument” or the straw man fallacy.

Argumentative fallacies are reasonings that seem valid, but which are not valid at all as they contain errors in one or more parts of the reasoning. However, it is not uncommon to find them in support of several positions. The resulting conclusions will always be wrong, or rather, they will not necessarily be true.

Specifically, the straw man fallacy occurs when a person distorts an argument of his opponent to make it less credible. Nowadays, it is one of the most used forms of manipulation. In this article we will see exactly what it consists of, as well as give some examples.

What are argumentative fallacies?

The study of fallacies is the competence of some disciplines such as philosophy and psychology which for centuries have investigated and classified the various wrong ways of arguing that apparently seem correct.

Since ancient times, humans have been thought to have the great ability to think rationally. However, research in recent decades has shown that rationality is quite the exception. Contrary to what was previously believed, we tend to get carried away by unconscious prejudices.

In this sense, when a reasoning is proposed to us, it is difficult for us to verify whether it uses logic in a valid way or not. In cases where an argument seems rational but really isn’t, we are faced with a fallacy. There are different types, but one of the most common is that of the straw man.

What is the straw man fallacy?

The straw man fallacy consists in refuting a valid argument of the adversary by replacing it with another that resembles him, but which is wrong. This makes it easier to argue and make the other person lose credibility. Typically, it is used to defend political, religious and social ideologies.

It is therefore easy to find the straw man fallacy in topics such as abortion or immigration. We can also recognize it in political debates, in the media or in official communications. The intention and the objective it hides is to avoid facing the interlocutor’s arguments. This is because, through the fallacy, the opponent’s arguments are replaced with more absurd ones.

The structure of the fallacy is as follows:

• One person raises the topic “A”.
• His opponent distorts it and replaces it with the “B” argument. Which is similar, but misleading.
• The second person refutes the “B” argument.
• Thus, since he equated the two arguments, he gives the impression that “A” has also been refuted.

Examples of the straw man fallacy

Here are some examples that illustrate what this fallacy consists of.

1- Laws on alcohol

Imagine a debate on changing the legal minimum age for drinking beer. Following the straw man fallacy, the discussion could take this form:

• Individual A. We should consider reducing the minimum drinking age to 16. At that age, the human body is already mature to withstand the effects of alcoholic beverages.

• Individual B. It’s crazy. If we begin to allow children to indiscriminately consume alcohol, society will suffer who knows how many other problems.

As you see, Individual B did not respond to the argument raised by A. Instead, he took the argument to the extreme (equating 16-year-olds to children). In this way, he avoids having to argue with the other on a rational level.

2- Evolution of the human species

• Individual A. Currently, humans share much of their ancestry with primates. We have a great deal of evidence on this subject.

• Individual B. If humans come from apes, why do chimpanzees still exist?

In this case, person B doesn’t quite understand how evolution works. Consequently, instead of refuting the argument through logic, it uses a fallacious one and does not reply to what A. In this case, the error could also be considered a proof for absurdity.

The straw man fallacy is one of the most common. That is why it is essential to recognize it and always be able to discuss using logic and rationality.