Transcript Red Herring
Red Herrings Example 1 (from The Fallacy Detective) Jenny: “Girls are much smarter than boys.” Bert: “Oh yeah. How do you know that?” Jenny: “Because, they just are.” Bert: “But how do you know it?” Jenny: “There are lots of girls who have done lots of smart things. Our neighbor, Mrs. Jones, is pretty smart; Joan of Arc saved the French from the English; and Madame Curie invented Example 1 Continued the light bulb.” Bert: “But how do you know they are smarter than boys?” Jenny: “Because there are many girls who have high IQs. That makes them smart.” Bert: “You still haven’t answered the question. Why are girls smarter than boys?’ Jenny: “Well, I’m smart and you’re dumb. That proves it.” Red Herring When someone is avoiding the question and asserting something irrelevant, we say they are introducing a red herring into the argument. A red herring is a dead fish – started to become “ripe” and smelly Where does the term come from? Definition A Red Herring is the introduction of an irrelevant point into an argument. Someone may think (or they may want us to think) it proves his side, but it really doesn’t. Example 2 Jenny: “I think boys should always open doors for girls.” Bert: “Why?” Jenny: “Because, that is the gentlemanly thing to do.” Bert: “Why is that the gentlemanly thing to do?” Jenny: “Because it is very helpful for the girls.” Bert: “But wouldn’t it also be a helpful thing for the boys if all the girls opened the doors for them? Why don’t all the girls open the doors for the boys?” Jenny: “Because that isn’t right. This afternoon, when we Example 2 Continued were coming out of the grocery store, I had several bags in my hands and I had to put them all down to open the door, just because you were too rude to help me.” Bert: “I couldn’t help you open the door because I was out in the parking lot waiting in the car.” Jenny; “See what I mean? You were too inconsiderate to think that I might need some help when I came out of the grocery store. I think that was ungentlemanly.” Example 2 Continued Bert: “I didn’t know that you were going to buy so many groceries, otherwise I would have.” Jenny: “You should have thought of that.” Not a Red Herring When someone says, “I don’t know,” and doesn’t answer the question, he is not introducing a red herring. He is still addressing the topic – he just doesn’t have an answer. Exercise #1 (from The Fallacy Detective) In the following examples, is the speaker addressing the question and staying on topic? 1. Son: “Why can’t I go see the movie The Day of the Spatulas” with my friends?” Dad: “Because it’s a scary movie and you shouldn’t see scary movies when you are this young.” He is answering the question. 2. Son: “Why can’t I go see The Day of the Spatulas with my friends?” Dad: “Because January 1 falls on a Wednesday this year.” RED HERRING! 3. Son: “Why can’t I go see The Day of the Spatulas with my friends?” Friend: “Because you don’t have enough money for the ticket.” He is answering the question. 4. Son: “Why can’t I go see The Day of the Spatulas with my friends?” Dad: “Isn’t there some other kind of movie you could go to see instead?” RED HERRING! 5. Son: “Dad, can I go see The Day of the Spatulas with my friends?” Dad: “Why don’t you go ask your mother?” RED HERRING! 6. Son: “Dad, can I go see The Day of the Spatulas with my friends?” Dad: “No.” He is answering the question. 7. Son: “Dad, can I go see The Day of the Spatulas with my friends?” Dad: “I don’t know. What is The Day of the Spatulas? Is it about pancakes? He is answering the question. 8. Son: “Dad, why did you go to see the The Day of the Spatulas, when you said I couldn’t?” Dad: “It was a really good movie. I’ll take you to see it next week.” RED HERRING! Recognizing Red Herrings “Sparkledent is great for reducing cavities. Dentists say cavities are the number one dental problem in America.” “Sparkledent is recommended by dentists everywhere as the number one cavityreducing toothpaste, so you should use it.” Red herrings are often good arguments. The only problem is, they don’t prove the point being argued – they prove something else.