Rhetorical Fallacies

Appeals to Tradition

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Begging the Question

Appeals to Tradition

1. X is old or traditional

2. Therefore X is correct or better.

Appeals to Tradition

Arguing against change because “we’ve always done it this way.”

(Public Speaking, 335)

Appeals to Tradition

• People feel more comfortable about what has been around longer.

• Sticking with things that are older or traditional is often easier than testing new things.

Appeals to Tradition

“The theory that witches and demons cause disease is far older than the theory that microorganisms cause diseases. Therefore, the theory about witches and demons must be true.”

“Test of Time”

Something that has been around a long time is NOT automatically true simply because it has "passed the test of time."

If a person assumes that something must be correct or true simply because it has persisted a long time, then he has Appealed to Tradition.

Examples

Sure I believe in God. People have believed in God for thousands of years so it seems clear that God must exist. After all, why else would the belief last so long?

Examples

Marriage is one of humanity’s oldest institutions, and it wouldn’t have survived so long as an integral part of every culture if it were not for the fact that it is vital for our survival. Therefore, we shouldn’t tamper with it or do anything that might harm it.

Examples

Of course this mode of government is the best. We have had this government for over 200 years and no one has talked about changing it in all that time. So, it has got to be good.

Examples

A reporter is interviewing the head of a family that has been involved with a feud with another family.

Reporter: "Mr. Hatfield, why are you still fighting it out with the Mcoys?"

Hatfield: What are you crazy? This feud has been going on for generations so I'm sure there is a darn good reason why it started. So I aim to keep it going. It has got to be the right thing to do. Hand me my shooting iron boy, I see one of those Mcoy skunks sneaking in the cornfield."

Begging the Question

1. X is true.

2. The evidence for this claim is that X is true."

Begging the Question

Involves Circular Reasoning.

The warrant and the claim are the same thing.

(Public Speaking, 336)

Begging the Question

“People should support an equal rights amendment because it is the right thing to do.”

(Public Speaking, 336)

Begging the Question

Takes for granted or assume the truth of the very thing being questioned.

Begging the Question

“Shopping now for a dress to wear to the ceremony is really begging the question--she hasn't been invited yet.”

Examples

If such actions were not illegal, then they would not be prohibited by the law.

Examples

Bill: "God must exist.“

Jill: "How do you know."

Bill: "Because the Bible says so."

Jill: "Why should I believe the Bible?"

Bill: "Because the Bible was written by God."

Examples

Interviewer: "Your resume looks impressive but I need another reference.“

Bill: "Jill can give me a good reference.“

Interviewer: "Good. But how do I know that Jill is trustworthy?“

Bill: "Certainly. I can vouch for her."

Quiz

• True/False: “Test of Time” is an exception to the Appeals to Tradition Fallacy.

• Name one of the two reasons the Appeal to Tradition Fallacy is so common.

• True/False: Begging the Question means not being precise enough in your premises, thus provoking questions from your audience.