LOGIC. THE FALLACIES OF: SPECIAL PLEADING, APPEAL TO A HIGHER POWER, LACK OF FAITH, SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. PART 1.

You can take your pick, but each of the above FALLACIES applies to the same Basic Category, WHICH CAN BE DEFINED AS:

ANY FORM OF ARGUMENT THAT LEADS TO A CONCLUSION THAT IS BASED ON PURELY SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA, WHICH BY ITS VERY NATURE CANNOT BE ANALYZED, REFUTED, OR JUDGED BY THE RULES OF LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING.

Many times you will see these used by some as a Last Resort to help rescue a Debate, Discussion, or Argument they realize is being lost to the Opposition.  It is a Tactic completely designed to appeal to the Spiritual, Religious, or Metaphysical Belief System of those who may pass Judgment on the Merits of each side presented.  

However, it completely leaves the REALM OF CRITICAL THINKING AND THE RULES OF DEDUCTIVE AND INDUCTIVE LOGIC.  It is a PERSONAL EVALUATION, THAT APPLIES SOLELY TO THE INDIVIDUAL ASSERTING IT AS TRUE.

This Individual can seek to Convince others of its value, but this is done on a Purely Emotional Level. INTELLECTUAL REFLECTION IS NOT REQUIRED, OR EVEN DESIRED.

Now you may Think, What Harm is there in someone Offering this Type of Opinion? Nothing, as long as it applies to the Individual Alone. 

LOOK FOR PART 2.

Join the movement to boot Ken Paxton. Boot Texas Republicans and ActionNetwork.org.

 

David, Last week, millions of Americans learned a name they’d never heard of before: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. He was recently made infamous for his role in bringing a bunk lawsuit to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to overturn the 2020 election, and in turn, undermine the will of voters. But, David, this isn’t new behavior from Ken Paxton. He’s sold favors to the highest bidder, obstructed public health measures intended to keep Texans safe, and worked overtime to prevent Texans from voting. He’s an enemy of democracy and has no place being in elected office in Texas. Today we’ve launched Boot Paxton because it’s time to give him the boot. Join the movement to beat Ken Paxton and build a Texas that works for all of us. Why we need to Boot Paxton: AG Ken Paxton has been credibly accused by his own staff of bribery, abuse of office, and other crimes. He is under investigation by the FBI for using his office to benefit his donors and partner in an extramarital affair. He has embarrassed Texas by pursuing dangerous, legal conspiracy theories designed to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He has obstructed public health measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, leading to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of people in El Paso. He has misused his office to prevent Texans from voting, in an attempt to influence the outcome of elections. Thank you, Boot Paxton HQ Paid for by Boot Texas Republicans

Sent via ActionNetwork.org

AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION. APA Eastern Division Meeting: The Teaching Hub.

 

Dear DAVID,   Have you registered for the 2021 Eastern Division meeting, January 7–9 and January 14–16? If not, take a moment and register online now!   This year’s meeting will feature the popular Teaching Hub, a three-day series of workshops and sessions that address the teaching of philosophy at all levels. The Teaching Hub, sponsored by the APA and the American Association of Philosophy Teachers, will run from Thursday, January 7, through Saturday, January 9, 2020. Eastern Division meeting registrants are invited to attend any or all of the sessions.   The 2021 Eastern Meeting Teaching Hub will include the following sessions (visit the APA website for details): Philosophy and Civics Education Ethics Bowl in the Classroom: Perspectives on Dialogical Pedagogy for Ethics and Civics Education Philosophical Fiction for Children: Writing and Reading It AAPT Workshop: “This Is All Bullshit”: Racism and Sexism in the Classroom Teaching Sustainability Teaching Mary Wollstonecraft How to Teach an Asian Philosophical Classic Rethinking Upper-Division Courses for Non-Majors My Top Five: Philosophers Share Their Lists Closing Reception: Undergraduate Research and Faculty SoTL Poster Session Register now for the 2021 Eastern Division meeting!   You may register online at any point between now and the last day of the meeting, but early registration will help in planning the meeting. Please note that this year, registration rates are discounted approximately 20 percent off of the registration rates for in-person meetings. If you haven’t already done so, renew your membership for 2020–2021 now to be eligible for the APA member registration rates.     We look forward to seeing you (virtually) at the meeting!   All the best,   Amy E. Ferrer Executive Director

THE "EMPTY" ASSERTION: THE DEMAGOGUES BEST FRIEND, AND THE FOUNDATION FOR "CONSPIRACY THEORIES." UPDATE.

WHAT IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL PART OF TRUMPSPEAK?

"EMPTY" ASSERTION-  ANY STATEMENT, (WRITTEN OR ORAL), THAT CLAIMS TO BE FACTUAL, BUT HAS LITTLE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE OR DATA THAT CAN WITHSTAND PROPER SCRUTINY.  In many cases, the act of criticizing the Assertion is discouraged, AND IT MUST BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT QUALIFICATION.

THE EMPTY ASSERTION works best when it feeds into preconceived ideas and conclusions. It allows those with little Intellectual Evidence to support their opinions on certain issues, to make "FACTUAL CLAIMS" that are not based on the Rules of Logic. 

It gives the Opportunist the chance to prey on the Prejudice and Irrationality of those who don't want Reality and Truth to keep them from forcing their own brand of "TRUTH" on everyone else.

Some examples might include;

-  Inventing a causal relationship between certain groups, that their place of Birth or National Origin automatically indicates the Increased Chance that they are likely to carry a communicable disease. This is done without actually researching the statistics to back up this conclusion with 

factual data.

-  That the belief in the Existence of a Right according to Constitutional Law is found not to be Valid by Judicial Decision, will lead to an immediate Government crackdown to eliminate any trace of the Subject Matter ruled on before the Court.

-  That an Accusation of MORAL or CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT, automatically means there is Sufficient Grounds or Evidence to make such a Statement.  In fact, there may be nothing at all. The Accusation is just a Tool to mislead and place an undeserved Tag on an Opponent or Rival Organization.

Remember, the "EMPTY ASSERTION" does not need to provide any Reasonable Explanation for anything that is said, or claimed to be true.