What Is a Straw Man Argument? Definition and Examples

What Is a Straw Man Argument? Definition and Examples

When you make a straw man argument, you’re essentially arguing against an imaginary scarecrow. You can make any argument you want and the scarecrow won’t argue back. In fact, you can position it any way you want, tailoring it into the perfect position for you to argue against.

What is a straw man argument?

The straw man fallacy is the logical fallacy of distorting an opposing position into an extreme version of itself and then arguing against that extreme version.

History of the Straw Man Fallacy

The straw man fallacy dates back to Martin Luther in his 1520 book On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church

Straw man argument examples

Because of the thefts in our building, I think we should add more security cameras.

How does a straw man argument work?

Strawman arguments are constructed by presenting the opposing position as a warped, extreme version of itself

Some examples of a straw man argument

Person 1: Because of the thefts in our building, I think we should add more security cameras. Person 2: So you’re saying you don’t trust your neighbors?

When and why is the straw man fallacy used?

People use straw man arguments for a variety of reasons

How to Counter a Straw Man Argument

Restate your position in the clearest, most definitive language possible

Source

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