Red herring logical fallacy examples6/13/2023 The red herring fallacy is an informal fallacy. They are categorized according to their logical structure as formal fallacies (like ecological fallacy) or their content as informal fallacies. Although they are not logically sound, they appear solid at first and therefore can easily go unnoticed.įallacies may be committed intentionally to persuade and deceive others, or unintentionally, for several reasons, such as ignorance or language barriers. Fallacies can be either illegitimate arguments or irrelevant points, and they can be identified because they lack evidence that supports their claim. Logical fallacies are common errors in reasoning that render an argument logically invalid. Instead of answering the question, they may start talking about some unrelated topic to distract their audience. For example, politicians often use it as a diversion tactic to evade difficult questions asked in public. Sometimes, a red herring is used as a rhetorical strategy to persuade others, or even used accidentally in argumentation, in which case we call it a red herring fallacy. In this case, the red herring is used as a literary device to send the reader down the wrong path, creating a plot twist and delivering a surprise ending. Mystery novels, for instance, often feature a character who draws the reader’s attention as a potential suspect but is ultimately proven innocent. Red herring refers to the piece of information that is used as a diversion. Frequently asked questions about the red herring fallacyĪ red herring fallacy is a form of logical fallacy or reasoning error that occurs when a misleading argument or question is presented to distract from the main issue or argument at hand.How to respond to a red herring fallacy.Why do people use a red herring fallacy?.
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