Term Paper on "Decision Making Is Contingent on an Individual"
Term Paper 4 pages (1316 words) Sources: 1+
[EXCERPT] . . . .
decision making is contingent on an individual's ability to examine the soundness of arguments. In other words, it is important for decision makers in all walks of life and at all levels to be able to identify logical fallacies. As Toulmin, Rieke, and Janik (1979) point out, the ability to recognize fallacies is a "kind of sensitivity training" because they train a decision maker to be sensitive to common tricks of persuasion (Halpern, 1996, p. 193). This paper will focus on exploring the significance of three such common tricks of persuasion to critical thinking and decision making. The three tricks or logical fallacies are two wrongs make a right; appeal to force; and straw man.The Two Wrongs Make a Right Fallacy
The two wrongs make a right fallacy is also referred to as the "tu quoque (or "you too") argumentum ad hominem. As the phrase "you too" implies, this fallacy is aimed at revealing an inconsistency in the positions that the opponent has adopted on various occasions. This may be an inconsistency between the standpoint the opponent now attacks or defends and the standpoint the opponent attacked or defended in the past; or a discrepancy between a standpoint verbally expressed by the opponent and other behavior, which is not in accordance with the standpoint. The latter is, for example, the case if someone is guilty of the same practices criticized in the opponent (Blair et.al, 1996, p. 66).
The tu quoque argumentum ad hominem is a fallacy, which is also applied in a broader context. For example, this line of faulty reasoning is often used in referring to not just the opponent's behavior but also to that of others (Blair et. al., 1996, p. 66). Th
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This fallacy is of high significance to critical thinking since it is a very common form of argument. The aim of critical thinking is to pursue a logical, objective line of reasoning to discern the truth. The tu quoque fallacy attempts to divert a decision maker from doing exactly that. Thus, it is important to analyze the validity or morality of an action in isolation, irrespective of the number of people performing the action. This objectivity is particularly important when assessing organizational ethics.
Indeed, this was precisely the issue in the now famous Arthur Anderson case when the firm tried to defend its faulty accounting of Enron by pointing to industry wide practices: "They also say Arthur Anderson was unfairly scapegoated for having been Enron and WorldCom's auditor when the accounting profession as a whole strayed from its traditional concern for keeping business on the straight and narrow." (Cohen, 2004)
The Appeal to Force Fallacy
The argumentum ad baculum or appeal to force fallacy occurs when arguments literally use a stick to win a point. In other words, the appeal to force amounts to resorting to the use of threats against an opponent who refuses to accept one's viewpoint. Such threats are usually issued indirectly or by implication, and are often preceded by an assurance that no pressure is being applied (Blair et.al, 1996, p. 68). This type of fallacious argument is very commonly used in politics as well as business. So, when President Kennedy said to President Khrushchev, "If you don't remove your nuclear missiles from Cuba, then we will have no choice but to remove them by force. If we use force to remove the missiles that may provoke an all-out nuclear war. Neither of us wants an all-out nuclear war. Therefore, you should remove your missiles from Cuba," he was actually resorting to an argument that used an appeal to force.
The appeal to force fallacy is similar to the… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Decision Making Is Contingent on an Individual" Assignment:
“Fallacy Summary and Application Paper for Critical Thinking Essay
Use the three logical fallacies I have provided in this summary. Prepare a 1,050-1,400-word paper, in which you define each of the three fallacies, explain its significance to Critical Thinking, and discuss its general application to Decision Making. Using various sources (Internet, magazines, trade journals, etc.) find organizational examples that illustrate each one of your chosen fallacies. Be sure to use and cite at least four different references in your paper.
Fallacies below: Use three of the four of these fallacy statements as directed above:
1.Millions of innocent people died in Stalin's ruthless ideological purges. Clearly, Stalin was one of the most brutal dictators of the twentieth century. :Ad Hominem fallacy
2.You can't blame ***** for being unfaithful to his wife. Many presidents have had extra marital affairs. :Two wrongs make a right fallacy
3.President Kennedy to Soviet Premier Kruschchev: If you don't remove your nuclear missiles from Cuba, then we will have no choice but to remvove them by force. If we use force to remove the missiles, that may provoke an all-out nuclear war. Neither of us wants an all-out nuclear war. Therefore, you should remove your missiles from Cuba. :Appeal to Force Fallacy
4.Pete has argued that the New York Yankees are a better baseball team than the Atlanta Braves. But the Braves aren't a bad team. They have a great pitching staff, and they consistently finish at or near the top of their division. Obviously, Pete doesn't know what he's talking about. :Straw man Fallacy
How to Reference "Decision Making Is Contingent on an Individual" Term Paper in a Bibliography
“Decision Making Is Contingent on an Individual.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2004, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/decision-making-contingent/8250165. Accessed 6 Jul 2024.
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