Tag Archives: ad hoc fallacies

When is it reasonable to demand more studies?

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Fallacy Man

I recently wrote a post in which I reviewed the scientific literature on vaccines and autism, and the responses from the anti-vaccine crowd were predictable. The most common of these responses followed the basic format of, “but it could be … Continue reading →

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The logical paradox of ghost hunting

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Fallacy Man

Many people believe in the paranormal, and a great deal of time and effort is spent searching for evidence of it. Indeed, shows like “Ghost Hunters” are extremely popular, and the notion of using scientific equipment to detect the supernatural … Continue reading →

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The Rules of Logic Part 7: Using Consistent Reasoning to Compare Apples and Oranges

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Fallacy Man

Using consistent reasoning simply means that you use the same type of thinking or the same logical structure across your various views and arguments. In other words, the arguments that you use to support one position cannot conflict with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules of Logic, Vaccines/Alternative Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

10 common myths about evolution

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Fallacy Man

Evolution is the single most important concept in all of biology. It is absolutely vital for understanding both the history of life on earth and why our modern organisms have their current traits and behaviors. Nevertheless, it is also one … Continue reading →

Posted in Science of Evolution | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

What would it take to convince you that you were wrong?

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Fallacy Man

In debates, I often ask people what it would take to convince them that they were wrong, and, much to my amazement, they frequently tell me that nothing will ever make them change their minds. What’s even more astounding is … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules of Logic | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments