Ann Outhouse
Ann indulges in a logical fallacy (plus I get a passing mention on Slate...is that good?)
The Politics of Hate? By Torie Bosch
If A then B
therefore,
If not A then not B
which is precisely what the "wise" Ann A posits. (Set up a truth table if you don't believe me.)
Far from staying above the fray, Ann is slyly denying the obvious: the GOP (through initiatives like "the Southern Strategy") panders to bigots and xenophobes. Hence, their supporters are more likely to be...well, bigots and xenophobes. Her Brooksian ploy--pretend to be wise and reasonable-- may seem like a gentle pat on the back, but she's really looking for a spot to stick the knife.
PS: Ann's ploy also illustrates another, lesser-known logical fallacy: Argumentum via Denialadum ad Obviousensis.
Technorati Tags: Ann, Althouse, bigotry, GOP, fallacy, logic, illogic
The Politics of Hate? By Torie Bosch
Many liberal bloggers are giving the article the one-line treatment. "In related news, the sun also rises," deadpans Fred W, a Christian Democrat, on his blog Mad as Hell. The feminist blog Bitch Lab's extensive post about the study is especially peeved that the article allowed a Republican National Committee spokesman to combat the findings. "The logical rebuttal to scientific findings are people within the scientific community, NOT the flipping RNC (or the Dems, were this about them!)" the post huffs.Ann provides a fine example of vacuous implication (also known as denying the antecedent). As any student of Boolean algebra can tell you, the following is logically false:
The wise Ann Althouse is staying above the fray. Noting that a study mentioned in the article that suggests people accept facts that support their beliefs, she quips, "Do you find yourself thinking of lots of ways to discount the study? Is it because you're a Bush partisan? And if you're thinking the study is pretty good, well, aren't you a Bush opponent?"
If A then B
therefore,
If not A then not B
which is precisely what the "wise" Ann A posits. (Set up a truth table if you don't believe me.)
Far from staying above the fray, Ann is slyly denying the obvious: the GOP (through initiatives like "the Southern Strategy") panders to bigots and xenophobes. Hence, their supporters are more likely to be...well, bigots and xenophobes. Her Brooksian ploy--pretend to be wise and reasonable-- may seem like a gentle pat on the back, but she's really looking for a spot to stick the knife.
PS: Ann's ploy also illustrates another, lesser-known logical fallacy: Argumentum via Denialadum ad Obviousensis.
Technorati Tags: Ann, Althouse, bigotry, GOP, fallacy, logic, illogic
