Entry 4_Vũ Hồng Nhung

Argument structure and fallacies

item 1

"I can’t sleep when theres a full moon, for 2 or 3 days I am restless and sleepless, just lying there waiting for the dawn chorus to kick in. I have blackout blinds and thick curtains, so I never know what the moon is getting up to, but I’v realised that all my restless nights coenside with the full moon. I’ve had a busy and tiring weekend! And about 5 hours sleep total. I look out the window, great big yellow moon is floating there. "

Source: http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/the-lounge/full-moon-affect-sleep

_ Fallacies of presumption: Pro-hoc fallacies

_ Analysis: when the moon is full, she/he can sleep. she/he supposed that the reason of her/his sleeplessness is the moon. However, it doesn't relate to her/his insomina. May be it is result of some other problems such as her/his psychology, health,...

Item 2: 

“My fellow Americans…there has been some talk that the government is overstepping its bounds by allowing police to enter peoples’ homes without the warrants traditionally required by the Constitution. However, these are dangerous times and dangerous times require appropriate actions. I have in my office thousands of letters from people who let me know, in no uncertain terms, that they heartily endorse the war against crime in these United States. Because of this overwhelming approval, it is evident that the police are doing the right thing.”

Source: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-popularity.html

_ Analysis:

If the large number endorse of something, the thing is right ( if A, then B)

Thousands of people endorse  of the action of the government ( A)

So, the action of the government is right ( therefore B)

_ Fallacies of revelance: Appeal to popularity. The writer assumes that if most people endorse an idea or an action, the idea or action is a right thing. However, may be it is wrong thing sometimes

 Item 3

“…She said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses,” cried the young Student, “but in all my garden these is no red rose…”

(Oscar Wilde, the Nightingale and the Rose, 1888)

_ Structural fallacy:

she would dance with me if I brought her red roses (if A, then B)

these is no red rose (not A)

 She won’t dance with me (therefore not B)