Dearest readers, hope everyone is doing well despite busy schedules and communications overload all of us experience these days. Speaking of communications overload, we communicate a lot more than ever before. In the last few decades we went from things like doing one phone call at a time, to having something like 3 different texting conversations, social media posts, and YouTube comments going on at the same time. Super efficient, right? Well, maybe not. I know a few people who took logic courses in universities and since then I've looked into errors in reasoning, officially known as logical fallacies. These errors are so common that they have been named, defined and studied for centuries. My point is, these errors have been made by people all the time back when there were way less conversations to track and people were generally more focused and present in all of their communications. Nowadays, with communications overload, I'd say this has become even worse. So, it stands to reason that being able to properly identify these errors in a conversation, be it work or private, can truly save you time, money, and even keep you out of difficult and disastrous situations.
Not convinced? Think this topic is too high brow? Read on as I'll share with you a few of the more common logical fallacies with examples so you can judge for yourself the merit of knowing them well.
The first one I'd like to share is unfortunately increasingly popular in North America and is called the Ad hominem fallacy. Simply put, it's when you debate or argue with someone, but instead of debating their arguments, you attack them personally. This fallacy, if not identified and corrected, can quickly turn a debate into an argument and even a physical altercation. This can seriously hurt relationships with family, friends and co-workers- so basically everyone who matters in your life. Here are some examples:
Next up is the appeal to ignorance, known as argumentum ad ignorantiam. This one is quite common as well because, as human beings, we need to fill the void in our knowledge and understanding with something, anything that fits well into the big picture. We don't like abstract, unknown, uncertain things and circumstances. In the process of doing so, we often like to say that something is or that it isn't simply because we don't know any better. Here are some examples:
The next logical fallacy is also a popular one- it's called false dichotomy. This thinking error happens when someone erroneously limits a set of options or outcomes to just two, though in reality there are many. This is why it's also called the either-or fallacy. Here are a few examples:
Another really interesting one is appeal to hypocrisy, officially named tu quoque fallacy. This fallacy happens when you try to win a debate by discrediting the other person, so that it seems they can't say anything trustworthy or valid because they're a hypocrite. Here are a few examples:
There are plenty more logical fallacies out there, and they have a hold on our communications and our lives. Many people focus on improving communications speed and efficiency by learning to touch type, practicing concise and direct business language, and so on. You may have tried something similar in the past or you may be trying it now. Now, if you were to learn many of these fallacies and how to promptly identify them, you could increase communication speed and efficiency exponentially by completely eliminating entire conversation arcs and thought processes that are based in fallacies and can waste the time and energy of you and everyone you communicate with. If life were a bull, this would be one of the best ways to grab it by the horns. Think about it and give it a try some time.
Not convinced? Think this topic is too high brow? Read on as I'll share with you a few of the more common logical fallacies with examples so you can judge for yourself the merit of knowing them well.
The first one I'd like to share is unfortunately increasingly popular in North America and is called the Ad hominem fallacy. Simply put, it's when you debate or argue with someone, but instead of debating their arguments, you attack them personally. This fallacy, if not identified and corrected, can quickly turn a debate into an argument and even a physical altercation. This can seriously hurt relationships with family, friends and co-workers- so basically everyone who matters in your life. Here are some examples:
- It's been years since you created a single status report, so how can you tell me how long it should realistically take?!
- You've never been a refugee, so you cannot possibly understand what it's like to lose everything and be forced to flee your country to save your life!
- You don't know what it's like to be on a diet and hungry all the time because you have such good genes and a great metabolism!
Next up is the appeal to ignorance, known as argumentum ad ignorantiam. This one is quite common as well because, as human beings, we need to fill the void in our knowledge and understanding with something, anything that fits well into the big picture. We don't like abstract, unknown, uncertain things and circumstances. In the process of doing so, we often like to say that something is or that it isn't simply because we don't know any better. Here are some examples:
- The doctors can't explain how Jane woke from her coma, so it must have been a divine miracle as answer to our prayers.
- No one objected with my key proposal at the meeting yesterday, so that must mean everyone agrees we should go for it.
- No one has proven UFO's are alien, so they must secret military projects.
The next logical fallacy is also a popular one- it's called false dichotomy. This thinking error happens when someone erroneously limits a set of options or outcomes to just two, though in reality there are many. This is why it's also called the either-or fallacy. Here are a few examples:
- Either you're with me, or you're against me.
- You either love me, or you hate me.
- Either we attack them, or we end up looking weak.
Another really interesting one is appeal to hypocrisy, officially named tu quoque fallacy. This fallacy happens when you try to win a debate by discrediting the other person, so that it seems they can't say anything trustworthy or valid because they're a hypocrite. Here are a few examples:
- Mary is not a credible witness in John's murder trial because she was convicted of murder herself.
- If you like American healthcare better than Canadian, why don't you just move there?
- You think I'm an alcoholic eh? Takes one to know one.
There are plenty more logical fallacies out there, and they have a hold on our communications and our lives. Many people focus on improving communications speed and efficiency by learning to touch type, practicing concise and direct business language, and so on. You may have tried something similar in the past or you may be trying it now. Now, if you were to learn many of these fallacies and how to promptly identify them, you could increase communication speed and efficiency exponentially by completely eliminating entire conversation arcs and thought processes that are based in fallacies and can waste the time and energy of you and everyone you communicate with. If life were a bull, this would be one of the best ways to grab it by the horns. Think about it and give it a try some time.