00:00One of the more sobering realizations one encounters when delving into the intricacies
00:09of the human brain is the stark truth that our minds were not necessarily designed for
00:14logic, rationality, objectivity, or impartiality. In fact, the opposite often seems true. This
00:23becomes glaringly evident in the emotionally charged, time-constrained exchanges typical
00:28of television talk shows, where the brain's performance deteriorates further. Similarly,
00:35blog comments frequently reveal a lack of careful reading or comprehension, often devolving
00:40into vitriol or demonstrative misunderstandings. Gary Marcus, in his book, Kluge, eloquently
00:48argues that our brain is a patchwork organ, cobbled together through evolutionary fixes.
00:54Even after a thorough, reflective reading and a meticulously crafted response, many
00:59of us—indeed, all of us at various times—fall prey to logical fallacies. Among the myriad
01:07logical fallacies, six stand out both for their frequency and their blatant absurdity.
01:14Despite countless articles, books, and years dedicated to debunking these fallacies, they
01:19persistently ensnare us. Here are the top six fallacies.
01:251. Popularity Argument. Millions of people believe this, therefore it must be true. A
01:33cruder rendition might be, Millions of flies can't be wrong. Eat shit, gentlemen.
01:402. Authoritative Argument. High doses of vitamins C protect against colds. Linus Pauling, a
01:48two-time Nobel Prize winner, said so. This is incorrect. Vitamin C does not prevent colds
01:54and exemplifies a logical fallacy. The reverse form is equally fallacious. Since you lack
02:01expertise in transpersonal psychotherapy, your opinion is invalid.
02:073. Galileo Example. They laughed at Galileo, and now he's considered a genius. While true
02:15for Galileo, it doesn't imply that all ridiculed ideas will revolutionize science.
02:214. Hitler Example. This is typical of Nazis, this is typical of Hitler. Associating any
02:29idea with Hitler to discredit it is a fallacy. Godwin's Law humorously notes that as an online
02:36discussion grows, the probability of a Hitler or Nazi comparison approaches one.
02:425. Background. This fallacy is ubiquitous. Christoph Drosser in The Seduction of Logic
02:51elaborates on its pervasiveness.
02:546. Tradition Argument. Everything old is good. If it's been done for centuries, it must be
03:02right. A variant is the naturalistic fallacy. Natural is good, artificial is bad.
03:09Bonus Track The... and you too... fallacy. Despite its childishness, it remains common.
03:18For instance, if I advocate for vegetarianism, you might point out that I once ate chicken
03:23or wear leather.
03:25The validity of an argument should not be undermined by the arguer's personal actions
03:29or past beliefs. Arguments must be countered with reasoned arguments, not personal attacks.
03:37Bonus Track Special Science Blog. This fallacy flourishes in popular science blogs and often
03:42takes the form of, what you've written offends me. Offense does not denote correctness. It
03:48merely reflects one's emotional threshold.
03:52As Ricky Gervais aptly put it on Twitter, being offended does not make one right or
03:57wrong. Critics often lack constructive alternatives, humility, or a true understanding of the blog's
04:04editorial vision, science's essence, or audience preferences.
04:10In conclusion, while the comments section is a space for constructive feedback, debate,
04:15and learning, the exceptions are those falling into the Bonus Track Special Science Blog
04:20category.
04:23For further reading explore... Why are there such aggressive commentators on Gentientia?
04:28Remember, as the saying goes, they bark then we ride.
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