Ignoratio elenchi
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Ignoratio elenchi (also known as irrelevant conclusion) is the logical fallacy of presenting an argument that may in itself be valid, but which proves or supports a different proposition than the one it is purporting to prove or support. "Ignoratio elenchi" can be roughly translated by ignorance of the issue; "elenchi" is from the Greek έλεγχος, meaning an argument of disproof or refutation.
Aristotle believed that an ignoratio elenchi is a mistake made by a questioner while attempting to refute a respondent's argument. He called it an ignorance of what makes for a refutation.
Red herrings
When this logical fallacy is used in an attempt to intentionally confuse or distract someone else, it is known as a red herring. This phrase is thought to have originated from the use of smoked herring fish to distract dogs following a scent trail. The herring's strong smell could obscure the real trail and lay a false one.A satirical type of red herring is the "Chewbacca Defense". This term is sometimes used in Internet discussion forums.
Examples
- Baseball player Mark McGwire just retired. Clearly, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. After all, he's such a nice guy, and he gives a lot of money to all sorts of charities. (Friendliness and charity are not qualifications for induction into the Hall of Fame, therefore they do not support the conclusion.)
- The premier's tax policies may be popular, but I suspect he had an affair and is paying the woman to keep quiet. The media should investigate that! (This is an example of a red herring, as the speaker attempts to distract from tax policy with the unrelated matter of the alleged affair.)
See also
External links
- [About.com: Fallacies of relevance]
- [Nizkor Project: Red Herring]
- [Fallacy Files: Red Herring]
- [The Art of Controversy: Diversion] (bilingual with the original German) by Arthur Schopenhauer
- [Red herring in political speech]
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