Life's Logical Fallacies | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Life's Logical Fallacies

A.k.a. "Your argument doesn't make sense."

48
Life's Logical Fallacies
MIGS

I took a Logic class and we were taught that life is rather formulaic:

A and B are true, only if A is true and B is true, etc.

But my professor sounded like this:

In the proposition "If P then Q," the occurrence of P is sufficient reason for the occurrence of Q. P, as an individual or a class, materially implicates Q, but the relation of Q to P is such that the converse proposition "If Q then P" does not necessarily have sufficient condition. Thus, modus ponens.

That is so logical it sounds illogical. My peers and I then began applying logical fallacies, etc. to “better understand” the mathematics of a class I chose specifically because there was no "math.” I obviously didn’t check that the class not only filled a philosophy requirement, but also the sole math requirement. As an English and Writing major, I got a C+, and I am proud of that.

So when my next professor asked my new Rhetoric class to give examples of logical fallacies, I frantically scrambled together everything I had chucked the semester before from Logic. After failing to remember things, I decided that the best course of action was to memorize a few fallacies by applying my own experiences to them, just to better remember some of them.

  • I had a boyfriend back in high school, and my sister could not wrap her head around our relationship. So one day she finally asks me, “Why are you even still with him?” And I say something along the lines of his personality, his mind, his humor. And she just smirks at me and says, “Fine, but you’re stupid.” Ad hominem fallacy.
  • I wanted to go out one night and then stay over with a couple friends of mine, guys, girls. And so after strategically waiting for Mom's Good Mood, I casually threw out the proposal and she just looks up, leans back, looks at my father, and says, “These kids nowadays want to be having sleepovers with the opposite sex in large groups, and who knows what comes next. My own daughter is going to be a polygamist.” Slippery slope fallacy, Mom, slippery slope.
  • I saw a kid out one night who told me that, “Nature is good and weed is natural, and if weed is legal, then heroin should too be legal because it’s natural and so it’s good.” Appeal to nature fallacy. And also negating any medical statistics.
  • I figured out the modern example of "Do you still beat your wife?" when a girl I didn’t know too well–but well enough–asked me, “Do you think my boyfriend is hot?” Loaded question fallacy. Tip: the only answer that should ever be given if you have to give one is "Yes, but he isn't my type."
  • I had to panically phone to cancel plans one night: “I’m sorry, tonight just isn’t a good night; I’m so stressed because I have three papers and one exam all within two days of each other.” To which he said, “Oh, so you don’t have time for me.” If your significant other ever quotes back to you your own words, be sure it isn’t a straw man fallacy.

When I arrived at my second college, I was told my Logic class didn’t transfer over and so therefore I needed to take another math class. So I irritatedly arranged a meeting with my possible math professor; we have a good thing going and so I jokingly threw out, “So there are those who are good at math and those who avoid it at all costs, and I myself am in the latter group; you can't save me!” And she turned to me and said, “More possibilities exist than just those two groups. Black-or-white fallacy.”

I fulfilled my final math requirement.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

543247
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

427574
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments