The 10 Commandments Of Rational Debate (Logical Fallacies Explained)

Looking for an edge so you can win your next big argument, and emerge as the unbeatable winner of every rational debate there is?




Learn the 10 Commandments of Rational Debate and use them against your enemy as you obliterate their argument point by point (rationally, of course). Knowing your logical fallacies and how the brain can deceive even the brightest of minds is the first step towards winning an argument.

These are 10 of the more popular logical fallacies, but there are many others you need to learn in order to master the art of debateโ€ฆ



Rational Debate

1. Thou shall not attack the personโ€™s character, but the argument itself. (โ€œAd hominemโ€)

Example: Dave listens to Marilyn Manson, therefore his arguments against certain parts of religion are worthless. After all, would you trust someone who listens to that devil worshiper?

2. Thou shall not misrepresent or exaggerate a personโ€™s argument in order to make them easier to attack. (โ€œStraw Man Fallacyโ€)

Example: After Jimmy said that we should put more money into health and education, Steve responded by saying that he was surprised that Jimmy hates our country so much that he wants to leave it defenseless by cutting military spending.

Want to know more about how you can win arguments? Read Use the Socratic Method To Win Any Argument




3. Thou shall not use small numbers to represent the whole. (โ€œHasty Generalizationโ€)

Example: Climate Change Deniers take a small sample set of data to demonstrate that the Earth is cooling, not warming. They do this by zooming in on 10 years of data, ignoring the trend that is present in the entire data set which spans a century.

4. Thou shall not argue thy position by assuming one of its premises is true. (โ€œBegging the Questionโ€)

Example:

Sheldon: โ€œGod must exist.โ€
Wilbert: โ€œHow do you know?โ€
Sheldon: โ€œBecause the Bible says so.โ€
Wilbert: โ€œWhy should I believe the Bible?โ€
Sheldon: โ€œBecause the Bible was written by God.โ€
Wilbert: โ€œWTF?โ€

Here, Sheldon is making the assumption that the Bible is true, therefore his premise โ€“ that God exists โ€“ is also true.

5. Thou shall not claim that because something occurred before, but must be the cause. (โ€œPost Hoc/False Causeโ€).

This can also be read as โ€œcorrelation does not imply causationโ€.

Example: There were 3 murders in Dallas this week and on each day, it was raining. Therefore, murders occur on rainy days.




6. Thou shall not reduce the argument down to only two possibilities when there is a clear middle ground. (โ€œFalse Dichotomyโ€)

Example: Youโ€™re either with me, or against me. Being neutral is not an option.

7. Thou shall not argue that because of our ignorance, the claim must be true or false. (โ€œAd Ignorantiamโ€).

Example: 95% of unidentified flying objects have been explained. 5% have not. Therefore, the 5% that are unexplained prove that aliens exist.

8. Thou shall not lay the burn of proof onto him that is questioning the claim. (โ€œBurden of Proof Reversalโ€).

Example: Marcy claims she sees the ghosts of dead people, then challenges you to prove her wrong. The burden of proof is on Marcy, not you since Marcy made the extraordinary claim.

9. Thou shall not assume that โ€œthisโ€ follows โ€œthatโ€, when โ€œitโ€ has no logical connection. (โ€œNon-Sequiturโ€).

Similar, but the difference between the post hoc and non sequitur fallacies is that, whereas the post hoc fallacy is due to lack of a causal connection, in the non sequitur fallacy, the error is due to lack of a logical connection.

Example: If you do not buy these Vitamin X supplements for your infant, you are neglecting her.

Rational Debate

Example: Just because a celebrity like Dr. Oz endorses a product, it doesnโ€™t make it any more legitimate.

Using these 10 Commandments of the rational debate will help you win every argument, without unnecessarily attacking or humiliating the other person. Keep in mind these rules, and knock every debate out of the park.




If you want to know more rules when it comes to rational debate, then check this video out below:


The 10 Commandments Of Rational Debate (Logical Fallacies Explained)
Commandments Of Rational Debate Pin


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The 10 Commandments Of Rational Debate (Logical Fallacies Explained)

Written By:

Looking for an edge so you can win your next big argument, and emerge as the unbeatable winner of every rational debate there is?




Learn the 10 Commandments of Rational Debate and use them against your enemy as you obliterate their argument point by point (rationally, of course). Knowing your logical fallacies and how the brain can deceive even the brightest of minds is the first step towards winning an argument.

These are 10 of the more popular logical fallacies, but there are many others you need to learn in order to master the art of debateโ€ฆ



Rational Debate

1. Thou shall not attack the personโ€™s character, but the argument itself. (โ€œAd hominemโ€)

Example: Dave listens to Marilyn Manson, therefore his arguments against certain parts of religion are worthless. After all, would you trust someone who listens to that devil worshiper?

2. Thou shall not misrepresent or exaggerate a personโ€™s argument in order to make them easier to attack. (โ€œStraw Man Fallacyโ€)

Example: After Jimmy said that we should put more money into health and education, Steve responded by saying that he was surprised that Jimmy hates our country so much that he wants to leave it defenseless by cutting military spending.

Want to know more about how you can win arguments? Read Use the Socratic Method To Win Any Argument




3. Thou shall not use small numbers to represent the whole. (โ€œHasty Generalizationโ€)

Example: Climate Change Deniers take a small sample set of data to demonstrate that the Earth is cooling, not warming. They do this by zooming in on 10 years of data, ignoring the trend that is present in the entire data set which spans a century.

4. Thou shall not argue thy position by assuming one of its premises is true. (โ€œBegging the Questionโ€)

Example:

Sheldon: โ€œGod must exist.โ€
Wilbert: โ€œHow do you know?โ€
Sheldon: โ€œBecause the Bible says so.โ€
Wilbert: โ€œWhy should I believe the Bible?โ€
Sheldon: โ€œBecause the Bible was written by God.โ€
Wilbert: โ€œWTF?โ€

Here, Sheldon is making the assumption that the Bible is true, therefore his premise โ€“ that God exists โ€“ is also true.

5. Thou shall not claim that because something occurred before, but must be the cause. (โ€œPost Hoc/False Causeโ€).

This can also be read as โ€œcorrelation does not imply causationโ€.

Example: There were 3 murders in Dallas this week and on each day, it was raining. Therefore, murders occur on rainy days.




6. Thou shall not reduce the argument down to only two possibilities when there is a clear middle ground. (โ€œFalse Dichotomyโ€)

Example: Youโ€™re either with me, or against me. Being neutral is not an option.

7. Thou shall not argue that because of our ignorance, the claim must be true or false. (โ€œAd Ignorantiamโ€).

Example: 95% of unidentified flying objects have been explained. 5% have not. Therefore, the 5% that are unexplained prove that aliens exist.

8. Thou shall not lay the burn of proof onto him that is questioning the claim. (โ€œBurden of Proof Reversalโ€).

Example: Marcy claims she sees the ghosts of dead people, then challenges you to prove her wrong. The burden of proof is on Marcy, not you since Marcy made the extraordinary claim.

9. Thou shall not assume that โ€œthisโ€ follows โ€œthatโ€, when โ€œitโ€ has no logical connection. (โ€œNon-Sequiturโ€).

Similar, but the difference between the post hoc and non sequitur fallacies is that, whereas the post hoc fallacy is due to lack of a causal connection, in the non sequitur fallacy, the error is due to lack of a logical connection.

Example: If you do not buy these Vitamin X supplements for your infant, you are neglecting her.

Rational Debate

Example: Just because a celebrity like Dr. Oz endorses a product, it doesnโ€™t make it any more legitimate.

Using these 10 Commandments of the rational debate will help you win every argument, without unnecessarily attacking or humiliating the other person. Keep in mind these rules, and knock every debate out of the park.




If you want to know more rules when it comes to rational debate, then check this video out below:


The 10 Commandments Of Rational Debate (Logical Fallacies Explained)
Commandments Of Rational Debate Pin


Published On:

Last updated on:

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

7 Lessons To Learn From Yuanfen: The Fated Connections In Life

Amazing Lessons From Yuanfen Buddhism Philosophy

We often cross paths in life with people in the most unexpected ways, some stay for a lifetime, while others leave after a fleeting moment. In Buddhism and Chinese philosophy, the concept of yuanfen describes these predestined relationships and encounters.

Let’s learn how every connection is woven into the fabric of our existence by fate, shaping our journey, teaching us lessons, and guiding us toward growth.

Read More Here: 6 Therapeutic Japanese Words With Deep Meaning

Learn The Yuanfen Meaning…

Up Next

Philosophy as Self-Supervision: Reflecting on Psychological Practice

Philosophy As Self Supervision Important Key Points

How often do you pause and reflect on your own practice? Self supervision isnโ€™t just a tool, itโ€™s a philosophical approach for insight and growth. So let’s explore more!

How philosophical inquiry enhances self-awareness, reflection, and growth.

Key points

Philosophical reflection can be a tool for self-supervision.

Wonder and uncertainty can shape professional growth.

Philosophical inquiry can be integrated into everyday practice.

Up Next

Mindfulness And The Spirit of Buddhist Meditation

Mindfulness And The Spirit of Buddhist Meditation

Ever felt overwhelmed by your thoughts and emotions? What if you could train your mind to stay present, calm, and balanced? Learn more about Buddhist meditation below!

How mindfulness can help cultivate self-awareness and emotional regulation.

In recent years, mindfulness meditation, rooted in Buddhist traditions, has gained widespread interest in psychology and beyond. Amid a performance-driven culture, where achievement often outweighs presence, mindfulness offers a collective yearning for balance.

Up Next

16 Mahmoud Darwish Quotes On The Depths Of Love And Life

Mahmoud Darwish Quotes On Depths Of Love Life

Do you want poetry to touch your life forever? Then take a look at some of the beautiful Mahmoud Darwish quotes and poetry, it’ll surely change how you see the world!

Mahmoud Darwish, an influential Palestinian poet, is celebrated for his profound reflections on love, life, identity, and homeland.

Known for his powerful verses that explore both the beauty and the pain of existence, Darwish’s work resonates across cultures and generations. Hereโ€™s a journey through some of his most evocative quotes and

Up Next

The Modern Day Stoic: Unlocking Ancient Wisdom For Everyday Resilience

In a world filled with endless notifications, constant digital distractions, and information overload, how can we find inner calm and contentment? The ancient philosophy of Stoicism may hold the answers weโ€™re searching for. Letโ€™s find out how to be a modern day stoic and apply stoicism in the digital age.

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