Blog #3

Common mistakes in evaluating premises is a topic that I found quite interesting. There are a few different major points to this topic: arguing backwards, confusing possibility with plausibility, bad appeals to authority, mistaking the person for the claim, and mistaking the person for the argument. These mistakes happen all the time in every day arguments. Often times, phony reputations are among these types of mistakes. Hypocrisy is also found in arguments. Through personal experiences, one may have met a doctor who has advised against being overweight, and suggested exercise for a patient due to obesity. However, after taking a second look at the doctor, the man making these suggestions is not entirely in good shape himself. Of course, the patient should heed the doctor’s advice as it would be in the patient’s best interest to do so. But how can the doctor set a good example if he cannot follow his own advice? This may make it harder for an argument to be convincing.