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There are five errors that people often make when presenting thier opinion or an argument. These errors are result of people presently poorly prepared evidence and premises for the argument.
1. Non Sequirtus
2. False or Vague Premises
3. Ad Hominem
4. Begging the Question
5. Red Herring
1.Non Sequirtus(latin)- it does not follow
Non Sequirtus occurs when a person has premises but draws a conclusion that does not make sense along the premises known.
Example: Bianca knew her granola bars were missing. She also knew that Lisa came in and went out the office at the same time she did every day. Bianca concluded that Lisa stole her granola bars.
Premises: Granola bars were missing
Lisa came and left the office normally.
Conclusion: Lisa stole the granola bars.
Bianca's conclusion suggessts that Lisa stole the granola bars, but this conclusion does not follow the premises.
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2.False or Vague Premises
False and vague premises weaken an argument and makes all conclusions unbelievable becuase they are based on false ground.
Example:Bianca and Lisa were talking about the effects of smoking. Lisa said that smoking was beneficial because it calmed the nerves and made people feel better. Bianca disagreed and said that second hand smoke hurt the legs and made a person have less spit.
People believed Lisa even though she was wrong about smoking being overall beneficial to people. Because Bianca used false evidence for her argument people did not believe Bianca. This is an extreme example but this proves the horrible effect of false premises on an argument.
3. Ad Hominem(latin)- against the person
Ad Hominem occurs when the person, instead of tackling the problem attacks the person they are arguing against.
Example: Bianca and Lisa had a disagreement about the best way to get downtown. They both wanted to go the opposite way from each other. Their talking escalted and evolved into an argument. Bianca then screamed, "What would you know. You went a community college!"
Going to a community college has no relevence to the argument, it is just a personal attack towards Lisa.
4. Begging the Question
Begging the Question is only reinerating the argument. It is essentially using the main idea as a part of the argument.
Example: Bianca wanted to prove to Lisa that bigfoot is real. Lisa simply asks, "What makes you think that. What proof do you have." Bianca responds, "Because bigfoot is real."
Bianca uses the idea that "bigfoot is real" as both her main argument and her evidence.
5. Red Herring
A red herring puts the main argument aside and gives a personal answer that does not contribute the main idea.
Example: Bianca was trying to convince Lisa that smoking was okay and that second hand smoke wouldn't hurt anyone. While Lisa presented facts that proved the horrible effects of second hand smoke, Bianca simply said, "If you don't like smoking then don't smoke."
Bianca doesn't answer the question of the effects of second hand smoke but instead tells Lisa not to smoke. If Lisa did smoke that would have nothing to do with second hand smoke.
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