GOAL:
To be familiar with the concept of a fallacy and its role in philosophy, logic & argumentation, and general human cognition.
MATERIAL COVERED:
Fallacy readings located in module WEEK TWO.
QUESTION/PROMPT:
Read the Fallacy readings carefully.
Pick one of your favorite fallacies.
For your chosen fallacy, find a visual, a written, and video artifact of that fallacy. You should have a total of 3 artifacts (examples) for your chosen fallacy. I will only grade one example of each.
Visual: an image, picture, poster, pictorial advertisement, etc.
An X (former “tweet)), Instagram, Facebook, etc. that contains only words, does not count as a visual artifact, it is a written artifact. To count as a visual artifact, the image itself must be committing the fallacy; that is, it must be making a legitimate mistake and not referencing one. For this reason, cartoons, artistic illustrations (particularly political cartoons), and animations are bad choices as examples of fallacies. The purpose of many cartoons (political, especially), etc. is to illustrate the error in reasoning in such a way as to make it obvious to the general reader. Thus, it is not committing the fallacy, but showing it – making it obvious. Do not use cartoons and their like as examples.
An image of a text message/tweet/IG/FB/TT/etc. whose content is originally based on the written word and does not depend on an image for its meaning/understanding, does not count as an example of an image. For example, an image/screenshot/etc. of a series of text messages counts as a written and not visual artifact.
Video: YouTube videos/shorts, Instagram videos, Facebook Reels, etc. If you use a long video, make sure to give me a time stamp where the fallacy occurs. NOTE: Texas outlawed TikTok for state business. Please avoid the hassle and do not use TikToks.
Also, follow the same advice for the visual artifacts above for videos; that is, do not use cartoons, animations, texts, etc., as examples.
Written: magazine/newpaper articles, blog posts, X’s (tweets), tumble’s, IG’s, (written out paragraphs), etc.
THE IDEA IS TO USE EXAMPLES (ARTIFACTS) THAT ARE INTENDED TO BE SERIOUS, AND COMMITT AN ACTUAL FALLACY IN DOING SO. An artifact that demonstrates or illustrates a fallacy is not an example of a fallacy.
Label each artifact as either visual, video, or written.
You may not google or run an internet or AI assisted search for things like “example of X fallacy”. You need to 1) understand the nature of the fallacy by studying it, and 2) organically find an example using your own understanding and cognitive attention. I will be taking off points for not following this rule.
You need to explain why and how each artifact is an example of the fallacy.
For all artifacts (visual, video, written) make sure that you either give me something that I can directly view on the Word document (like a picture), or that you provide a WORKING url (link) that I can copy and paste into a browser address bar. DO NOT give me a Dropbox, Google Doc, etc, link. Obviously your explanations and descriptions need to be written out.
All examples need citations – I need to know exactly where you got the material from and I need to be able to find it myself with the citation information you provide.
On a Word document (.doc, or .docx) follow the following format for each artifact:
Fallacy Name: ______________
Artifact Type: (visual, video, written)
Artifact Source: (insert URL or other source indication)
Analysis of Artifact: Insert your explanation and analysis of your artifact here. Use as much space as needed.
Image: (If you have an image, put it after the above.)
NOTE: I will take off 2 points each for the following:
Not having 3 (a visual, video, written) artifacts.
Failing to provide a citation that takes me exactly to your source. All three artifacts/examples need a citation. (Test out your links before you submit.)
Using a cartoon, artistic illustration, or animation as an example of a fallacy.
Discovering or suspecting that your artifact came by way of some type of direct search for a fallacy.
Module 2 Source: