Logical Fallacy 11/27/2016

A logical fallacy can be defined as faulty reasoning, or an error in reasoning, that makes an argument invalid or unsound. Logical fallacies are often unintentional but writers can use them intentionally to mislead or manipulate an audience. An example of a logical fallacy is black-or-white. Black-or-white fallacy is when two opposing arguments are presented as the only two options, even though there are obviously other options that exist. There's no compromise or, in other words, it's either black or it's white, no grey area. This logical fallacy makes it seem as if there's only two sides to an argument forcing an audience to choose either or, but it's effective because it creates an illusion that there's no middle ground making the audience feel pressured to side with you. Black-or-white fallacy is often seen in political cartoons, speeches, and social media. George Bush was known to use this logical fallacy in his speeches and in his campaigns. He would say a phrase like "You're either with the standards, or your with the terrorists!" He used it so often that political cartoons were made with him saying "You're either with us or against us" or other misleading phrases that give people no space to choose on their own. Instead it felt to his audience that they were required to side with him, always. Black-or-white fallacies are also very commonly seen in social media. for example when two friends are fighting in a group of three forcing the third friend to have to choose a side. If you think about it black-or white fallacies are very common; we've all experienced them. Growing up I was told "Valerie you either eat your food or you watch tv, you can't do both!" I never understood this reasoning. I always thought of it as killing two birds with one stone. I'm already sitting at the table with a tv in front of me, why can't I eat and enjoy it while watching a movie? There's always a compromise that can be made but when someone is forcing you to choose sides and makes it seem as if there's no other possibility, it's difficult to see that.