What, me nit-picky? Paul Hsieh posts a list of self-referential logical fallacies that is quite amusing (later augmented by Steven Den Beste). My only issue with the fomulations he posts is with the Complex Question fallacy, which he states thusly:
Complex Question:Have you stopped beating your wife and saying Complex Question isn't the best fallacy?
The problem is that the Complex Question fallacy is supposed to (improperly) group together two issues, one of which has a clearly correct position. By grouping a debatable question with an obvious question, the fallacy tries to apply the obvious answer to the debatable issue through (improper) association.
However, the "have you stopped beating your wife" question was originally designed not to have an obvious answer, and is therefore particularly unsuited for use in the Complex Question fallacy. Neither "yes" nor "no" is clearly the right answer, and so there's no false association to be made between beating one's wife and believing that Complex Question is the best fallacy.
A better formulation would be something like:
- "Do you agree that failing to recognize the supremacy of the Complex Question fallacy and beating your wife are grievous offenses?"
- "Isn't it terrible that so many people disparage the Complex Question fallacy and beat their wives?"
My dad used to ask "Do you walk to school or carry your lunch?" I was puzzled at first, but learned to laugh about it latter.
If you liked that list, you might like this book, which is basically the same thing but with each fallacy explained a few different (and mostly humorous) ways with plenty of funny real-life examples from politicians and the media.
We may joke and laugh about these fallacies, but the sad fact is, some important and influential people use these as arguments, and they are rarely as easy to spot as on that list. But once you know them, you see them everywhere. So it's always good to see some real-life examples.
And the "show things are bad by demonstrating each one" approach also works well for writing in general.
Yes, Bernardo, I've read Whyte's book. I especialy liked the way he refuted "Everyone has a right to his opinion" Answer: Not if it's a stupid opnion! :>)