Straw Man Arguments: A Study in Fallacy Theory

This book explores the straw man fallacy and its various forms, highlighting its rhetorical significance in philosophical reasoning. It argues that straw manning involves expressing distorted representations of critical interlocutors and demonstrates that it encompasses more than just the typical straw man argument. The authors emphasize the importance of the onlooking audience to the successful deployment of the straw man and its distinction from other fallacies due to its inappropriate meta-argument nature. Appealing to postgraduates and researchers in fallacies, rhetoric, argumentation theory, and informal logic, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of this fallacy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate realm of the straw man fallacy, exploring its pervasive presence in philosophical reasoning and its underappreciated role as a rhetorical device. While often employed in academic discourse and public discussions, the straw man fallacy has yet to receive the attention it truly deserves as a powerful rhetorical tool. In their insightful analysis, Scott Aikin and John Casey propose that straw manning involves the distortion of one's critical interlocutor's views through the creation of a fabricated and exaggerated representation. This fallacy manifests in three distinct dialectical forms, expanding beyond the conventional notion of a straw man. The authors further highlight the uniqueness of straw manning as it lacks a specific logical structure, constituting an instance of inappropriate meta-argument or argument about arguments.

The authors delve into the significance of the onlooking audience in the successful deployment of the straw man fallacy. They argue that the presence of an audience complicates the boundaries of argument, as the straw man is designed to elicit a specific response from the audience. By creating a false perception of the opponent's position, the fallacy aims to undermine their arguments and reinforce the author's own position.

The book offers a lively, provocative, and thorough exploration of the straw man fallacy, appealing to postgraduates and researchers alike. Spanning various fields such as fallacies, rhetoric, argumentation theory, and informal logic, this text provides a valuable resource for scholars seeking to deepen their understanding of logical reasoning and rhetorical strategies. Through its comprehensive analysis, the book sheds light on the deceptive nature of the straw man fallacy, enabling readers to identify and challenge it in their own arguments and discussions.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 241 x 163 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350065000