The term logical fallacy refers to the errors of reasoning. They can occur both accidentally and on purpose as means to persuade, motivate, or inspire an audience. Red herring is a type of logical fallacy that introduces an issue unrelated to the topic at hand as a way of distraction. The slippery slope is a fallacy that relies on wild, unsupported claims in order to lead the audience to believe in extraordinary outcomes of a certain issue. When dealing with the world of social media, advertisement, and politics, it is highly important to pay attention to the specific features that identify various logical fallacies.
An iconic historical example of the red herring policy is the Old Spice commercials. They depict a handsome man on a horse, who is listing all the attractive qualities of man. In this case, the attention is redirected from the product’s original purpose (staying fresh) to unrelated qualities of success and attractiveness. A more modern example of red herring is present in the speech of ex-President Donald Trump. When asked about the issue of climate change, Trump changed the flow of conversation towards America’s financial superiority (C-Span, 2019). In both cases, logos is misused, leading the audience to believe that the provided information is more valuable than the discussed issue.
The slippery slope is exemplified in the running series of Mayhem insurance commercials. These videos depict various calamities that can happen to an insured car owner. This creates a sense that those who do not have Mayhem insurance will suffer severe consequences for it. Another more recent example of the slippery slope in advertising is Kleenex commercials, which show people in states of unsanitary or uncomfortable positions. It implies heavily that without the product, people will look messy and gather others’ disgust and disapproval (as the sneezing man or the boy with a runny nose) (Kleenex Brand, 2022). It uses pathos to make sure that people feel an exaggerated sense of danger that would come if they did not purchase the products.
In conclusion, logical fallacies should be accounted for when making decisions, whether regarding politics or purchases. It is evident that companies and politicians are capable of misusing the way of pathos, logos, and ethos to persuade their audiences. A person’s ability to recognize the fallacies and methods they are conducted contributes to their ability to critically perceive the world. This ability allows them to make educated decisions that ensure their and the public’s well-being and safety.
References
C-Span (2019). President Trump on climate change [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Henrick Persson (2014). All of the Terry Crews Old Spice commercials [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Kleenex Brand (2022). Grab Kleenex® | Anthem [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Me waiting for the doctor to show up at my appointment after 30 min. (n.d). Web.