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Exposing the Bogus Arguments of Politicians, Priests, Journalists, and Others

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Published in Crimes Against Logic: Exposing The Bogus Arguments Of Politicians Priests Journalists And Other Serial Offenders

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In today's world, it's more important than ever to be able to think critically and evaluate the arguments we hear from others. Unfortunately, many people are easily swayed by bogus arguments, which can lead to dangerous consequences.

In this book, Dr. Michael Shermer exposes the most common types of bogus arguments and provides the tools you need to identify and refute them. You'll learn how to:

Crimes Against Logic: Exposing the Bogus Arguments of Politicians, Priests, Journalists, and Other Serial Offenders

by Jamie Whyte

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Language	:	English
File size	:	452 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	178 pages

Spot logical fallacies
Detect hidden assumptions
Evaluate evidence
Construct sound arguments

With this knowledge, you'll be able to make more informed decisions and avoid being misled by bogus arguments.

Chapter 1: The Nature of Bogus Arguments
Chapter 2: Logical Fallacies
Chapter 3: Hidden Assumptions
Chapter 4: Evaluating Evidence
Chapter 5: Constructing Sound Arguments

Excerpt from Chapter 1

In the first chapter of the book, Dr. Shermer discusses the nature of bogus arguments. He argues that bogus arguments are not simply wrong, but that they are intentionally designed to deceive and mislead.

Dr. Shermer identifies three key characteristics of bogus arguments:

They rely on logical fallacies.
They contain hidden assumptions.
They are supported by weak or no evidence.

Dr. Shermer provides examples of each of these characteristics in the book. He also shows how bogus arguments can be used to justify everything from political ideologies to religious beliefs.

Excerpt from Chapter 2

In the second chapter of the book, Dr. Shermer focuses on logical fallacies. He defines a logical fallacy as an error in reasoning that leads to a false .

Dr. Shermer identifies and explains over 50 different types of logical fallacies in the book. He also provides examples of each fallacy and shows how they can be used to deceive and mislead.

Some of the most common logical fallacies include:

Ad hominem
Straw man
Red herring
Begging the question
Circular reasoning

Dr. Shermer shows how these fallacies can be used to undermine sound arguments and promote bogus claims.

Excerpt from Chapter 3

In the third chapter of the book, Dr. Shermer discusses hidden assumptions. He defines a hidden assumption as an unstated belief that is necessary for an argument to be valid.

Dr. Shermer argues that hidden assumptions can be just as dangerous as logical fallacies. He shows how hidden assumptions can be used to justify everything from racism to sexism.

Some of the most common hidden assumptions include:

The world is divided into good and evil.
Men are superior to women.
White people are superior to non-white people.

Dr. Shermer shows how these hidden assumptions can be used to justify discrimination, violence, and even genocide.

Excerpt from Chapter 4

In the fourth chapter of the book, Dr. Shermer discusses evaluating evidence. He argues that it is essential to be able to evaluate evidence in Free Download to make informed decisions.

Dr. Shermer provides a six-step process for evaluating evidence:

Identify the source of the evidence.
Consider the credibility of the source.
Examine the evidence for bias.
Evaluate the relevance of the evidence.
Weigh the evidence against other evidence.
Draw a based on the evidence.

Dr. Shermer shows how this process can be used to evaluate evidence in a variety of contexts, including scientific research, political debates, and news reports.