Straw Man Fallacy
Jul 5, 2023 17:17:00 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Jul 5, 2023 17:17:00 GMT -5
Straw Man Fallacy
This fallacy is called a Straw Man because it creates an issue that is not under discussion, and proceeds to argue against as if it were the subject under debate.
For example, just recently, in response to some mocking criticism involving Mexicans, I mentioned that people from western Africa, the ancestors of African Americans, were and are shorter in stature on the average. I presented statistical data in support.
Now, instead of offering counter-evidence with statistics of their own, the persons who objected to that information simply created a straw-man by arguing as if I had attempted to present evidence that African Americans are shorter than Anglo Americans something I had never even said. Instead, the shortness was presented as evidence that the African American tall height could not have been derived from these short West African ancestors. Instead, that it had been derived via being mixed with tall Northern Europeans.
Now, there are two reasons why someone might resort to this type of fallacious or flawed reasoning.
For example, just recently, in response to some mocking criticism involving Mexicans, I mentioned that people from western Africa, the ancestors of African Americans, were and are shorter in stature on the average. I presented statistical data in support.
Gambia 5' 6''
Ghana 5'6 1/2 in
Kenya 5' 7"
Liberia 5' 3 "
Malawi 5' 4"
Nigeria 5' 4 1/2 in
Rwanda 5' 4 1/2 " in
Uganda (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Mexico 5' 7' + 1/2 in
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_human_height_by_country
Ghana 5'6 1/2 in
Kenya 5' 7"
Liberia 5' 3 "
Malawi 5' 4"
Nigeria 5' 4 1/2 in
Rwanda 5' 4 1/2 " in
Uganda (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Mexico 5' 7' + 1/2 in
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_human_height_by_country
Now, instead of offering counter-evidence with statistics of their own, the persons who objected to that information simply created a straw-man by arguing as if I had attempted to present evidence that African Americans are shorter than Anglo Americans something I had never even said. Instead, the shortness was presented as evidence that the African American tall height could not have been derived from these short West African ancestors. Instead, that it had been derived via being mixed with tall Northern Europeans.
Now, there are two reasons why someone might resort to this type of fallacious or flawed reasoning.
1. The person actually misunderstood what the issue under consideration is.
2. The person understands what the issue is, but is unable to present any evidence in support, so deviates the discussion away from it.
Whatever the reason might be, Straw Man arguments prove absolutely nothing since they does not present any relevant counterevidence to the real issue under consideration.
Whatever the reason might be, Straw Man arguments prove absolutely nothing since they does not present any relevant counterevidence to the real issue under consideration.