Introduction of an Irrelevant Issue (Red Herring)

The introductory paragraphs on common types of logical fallacies discusses how "One of the commonest strategies is the introduction of an irrelevant issue...[that] serves only to distract the reader" (337-338). This fallacy is also known as a Red Herring or Ignoratio Elenchi, which translates to "ignorance of refutation."

As this is one of the most common types of fallacies, examples abound. My favorite example is that of the "Chewbacca Defense" ala Southpark, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presents us with a more culturally important example. He has consistently denied that the Holocaust during World War II actually happened. I have linked a clip of an interview where Katie Couric presents him with a photograph of a German concentration camp, and asks him, "Is this photo a lie, is this a fabrication?" And rather than answer her question directly, he avoids the question entirely, posing his own question. He proposes that we focus on all of the 60 (or so) million people who died during that time, not just that set of people. He introduces a set of information that is indirectly involved with the issue of the Holocaust.

Now why exactly has he presented us with this relevant--but not to the question he was specifically asked--information? Well, it is difficult to discern his exact motivations, but he has consistently derided the people of Israel, called for an end to their nation, and is open about his support of groups in the West Bank and Gaza strip, such as Hamas, that our country's government has labeled terrorist organizations. (Though of course a further complication is that this "terrorist organization" was fairly democratically elected. But I digress...) To suggest that the Jewish people were given the area of Israel after World War II because of egregious suffering inflicted upon them would would give too much legitimacy to the Israeli state, according to his world view.

Analyzing Ads

The makers of Canadian Club Whisky are catering to a specific audience with this advertisement. The text, the background, and the foregrounded image of the bottle itself all combine to evoke a particular image of what type of person would drink this brand of whisky. The text, "You're not just moving in, you're moving up" suggests that Canadian Club is a high(er) class of whiskey. The message also is combined with the blueprints in the background suggesting that this is the whisky of social mobility; those who are affluent enough to own a home are the sort who drinks this brand. The makers of the ad (not coincidentally) include the word "Imported" on the bottle's label, because we often perceive something foreign as having an aura of mystique and expense. At the bottom of the ad in quotation marks (to add a perceived legitimacy to the statement) is a claim that this drink is "The Best In The House." This continues the theme of homeownership, while providing some sort of support to the brand's claim.
The claim? It is one of policy--they want the viewer to buy the product. Perhaps then the claim is "If you have enough money to be a homeowner, then you are the type of person who should drink Canadian Club."
Support? As with many advertisements, the support is not specific. At the bottom of the ad, it says "The Best In The House," but the image is too blurry to tell if the fine print at the bottom backs up that claim at all.
Warrant? "You should buy alcohol that reflects your social status/wealth."

Second day of class: Blogs

Wow, many lessons learned. I am continually surprised at how confounding and frustrating technology can be. What seemed to be quite a simple process turned into a bit of a mess. Next time I will make sure the language setting for all of the class computers is English! Yeah, sure was not expecting that one.

I hope we have gotten some of the kinks worked out. I am not entirely sure, but I think so. We'll see.

For my students (and I don't know why anyone else would be following this blog), I want to let you know that I will be blogging right along with you. I have to admit that this is my first time writing blogs and assigning blogs, so it all is a bit of an experiment. I just have not had good experiences giving the weekly reading quiz, so this is an attempt to try something more constructive, and ideally less divisive. Let's see where it goes.

Good luck this semester!

D.