Straw Man Fallacy

(Lietha, 2009)

 

The straw man fallacy is when a person or organization projects positions onto another person or organization and then attacks those ideas they created. The name straw man is because the attacker in essence creates a false image or "straw man" that they then try to counter. This method of persuasion is unethical because people are persuaded to take the attackers side because of lies that were implied about the opposition. For example, the statement that people who are against abortion don't respect women's rights to their bodies, and women should have the right to choose. This example brings up a point that is not stated by the opposition and then refutes that point, leaving the listener with the false impression that the opposition doesn't agree with women's rights. The Straw Man fallacy is used often because of peoples tendency to assume.

Lietha, D. (Artist). (2009). Retrieved from http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/09/28/logical-fallacies-straw-man