Logical Fallacies in The Crucible

Red Herring Definition

Introducing a topic not related to the subject at hand

Appeal to Force Example

You have to confess to which craft or else you will be hanged

Ad Hominem Example

1) "Beware of this man, Your Excellency this man is mischief" Parris made a personal attack on Proctor in order to diminish his credibility 2) Green Peace's strategies aren't effective because they are all dirty, lazy hippies.

Bandwagon/Ad Populum Example

1) Danforth feels that the numbers alone should speak for themselves and refuses to believe he has been deceived 2) Encourages the audience to do something because everyone else is doing it

Appeal to Pity Example

1) Giles says to Danforth, "He was a fair judge your father" 2) "I know the exam is graded based on performance, but you should give me an A. My cat has been sick, my car broke down, and I've had a cold, so it was really hard for me to study!"

Appeal to Tradition Example

1) Hale says that "the light of God is in him [Parris] because he is a priest, a chosen who is here to give out Gods command 2) "I don't see any reason to abolish the electoral college. It has been around since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, and we should keep it as long as the United States continues to exist."

Begging the Question/Circular Argument Definition

A statement or claim is believed to be true without evidence other than the statement or claim itself

False Cause Definition

An argument that one event caused another to happen when it was merely a coincidence

False Cause Example

Giles couldn't remember his prayers because Martha was reading and he says that as soon as she left he could say his prayers

False Dilemma, Either/Or Definition

Given 2 choices when in actuality there could be more choices possible

Ad Hominem Definition

In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas.

Begging the Question/Circular Argument Example

Martha Corey says, "I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a witch is" to which Hathorne replied "How do you know then that you are not a witch"

Appeal to Force Definition

Telling the listener/opponent that something bad will happen to them if they don't accept the argument

Appeal to Pity Definition

Urging the opponent to accept the argument based upon an appeal to emotion and sympathy

Appeal to Tradition Definition

Use tradition to lead people to believe that the historical preference is correct and should be followed

Red Herring Example

When Abigail interrupts Hale's attempt to prove that Abigail isn't who she says she is with a vision of a yellow bird

False Dilemma, Either/Or Example

Your either with this court or against it

What is a Logical Fallacy?

a statement that is given as support but is really an error in reasoning

Bandwagon/Ad Populum

the arguer tries to convince the audience to do or believe something because everyone else (supposedly) does