Strawman arguments

From dKosopedia

Strawman arguments are claims that are easily refuted to serve some other rhetorical purpose, usually to lend weight to some opposing argument. The cheat in this illogic is that the weakness of opposing arguemnts does not strenghten an argument.

Examples

• U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice argued that U.S. foreign policy should be based on "the firm ground of national interest" rather than the abstract and shifting views of the international community. Her "straw man" was that the U.S. foreign policy should be based on the views of the international community, an idea with few advocates. Source: Allen Buchanan. 2004. Justice, Legitimacy, and Self-Determination: Moral Foundations for International Law. Oxford University Press. Pp. 112-113.

Links

• Alan Colmes
• Eugene Volokh