In contrast to logical fallacies, which are independent of content, fallacies of content usually require specific factual knowledge to be revealed. They are not faulty because of their structure, but on account of their questionable content. The following term paper will be concerned with a piece of argumentative prose, which shall be analyzed for the various fallacies based on Patrick J. Hurley's A Concise Introduction To Logic.
The major focus therefore shall be on the detection of fallacies of content. First, I am going to discuss in detail which kind of factual knowledge has led me to diagnose the fallacies that appear in the text. Secondly, I will explain why an uniformed reader might fall victim to the claims in my chosen text.
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3. Dedected fallacies in Bush`s speech
3.1 Appeal to pity
Bush starts off his speech with an appeal to pity by asking for the UN's sympathy. He reminds them “to remember the innocent lives taken that terrible morning “being killed by the terrorist attack from 9/11. As a conclusion he poses that they have to “turn to the urgent duty of protecting other lives, without illusion and without fear.“ So Bush attempts to support a conclusion, war against Iraq, by evoking pity through reminding his audience of the terrible terrorist attacks from 9/11. He claerly uses the appeal to pity since the declaring of war on Iraq has nothing to do with the great losses the USA had to endure on 9/11. And therefore it does not become clear why the United Nations have to take immediate steps against Iraq. The appeal to pity fallacy which is committed by Bush is shown in the following illustration:
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Table of Contents
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S REMARKS AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
- 3. DETECTED FALLACIES IN BUSH'S SPEECH
- 3.1 APPEAL TO PITY
- 3.2 FALLACY OF FALSE DICHOTOMY
- 3.3 APPEAL TO FORCE
- 3.4 APPEAL TO IGNORANCE
- 3.5 FALSE OR WEAK ANALOGY
- 3.6 APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE
- 3.7 APPEAL TO UNQUALIFIED AUTHORITY
- 3.8 RED HERRING
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes President George W. Bush's September 12, 2002 address to the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on the fallacies of content present within the speech. The objective is to identify and explain these fallacies, detailing the factual knowledge necessary to expose them and explaining why an uninformed audience might be susceptible to the claims made.
- Logical fallacies in political discourse
- Analysis of President Bush's justification for war
- The role of factual knowledge in identifying fallacies
- The susceptibility of audiences to manipulative rhetoric
- The consequences of accepting fallacious arguments
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter lays the groundwork for the analysis. It differentiates between logical fallacies independent of content and fallacies of content, which depend on specific factual knowledge for their exposure. The paper's focus is on detecting fallacies of content within a specific text—President George W. Bush's address to the UN—using Patrick J. Hurley's "A Concise Introduction to Logic" as a framework. The chapter outlines the two-pronged approach: first, identifying the factual basis for diagnosing the fallacies; second, explaining how an uninformed reader might be misled by the speech's claims.
2. President George W. Bush's Remarks at the United Nations General Assembly: This chapter presents the full text of President Bush's speech delivered on September 12, 2002, to the UN General Assembly. The speech, focusing on the "War on Terror," is the primary source material for the subsequent fallacy analysis. It lays out Bush's justifications for the impending military action, touching upon themes of human dignity, regional conflicts, and the threat posed by Iraq's regime. The speech provides the context and content for the detailed fallacy analysis that follows.
Keywords
Logical fallacies, political rhetoric, President George W. Bush, United Nations, War on Terror, Iraq, fallacy of content, appeal to pity, false dichotomy, appeal to force, appeal to ignorance, weak analogy, appeal to the people, appeal to unqualified authority, red herring, factual knowledge, persuasive techniques.
FAQ: Analysis of President George W. Bush's September 12, 2002 UN Address
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This paper analyzes President George W. Bush's September 12, 2002 address to the United Nations General Assembly, concentrating on the fallacies of content within the speech. The goal is to identify and explain these logical fallacies, detailing the factual knowledge needed to expose them and explaining why an uninformed audience might be susceptible to the claims made.
What types of logical fallacies are examined?
The analysis examines several types of logical fallacies present in the speech, including: Appeal to Pity, False Dichotomy, Appeal to Force, Appeal to Ignorance, False or Weak Analogy, Appeal to the People, Appeal to Unqualified Authority, and Red Herring.
What is the methodology used in this analysis?
The analysis uses a two-pronged approach: first, identifying the factual basis for diagnosing the fallacies; second, explaining how an uninformed reader might be misled by the speech's claims. It utilizes Patrick J. Hurley's "A Concise Introduction to Logic" as a framework.
What is the significance of factual knowledge in this analysis?
Factual knowledge is crucial for exposing the fallacies of content within the speech. The analysis demonstrates how a lack of factual understanding can make an audience vulnerable to manipulative rhetoric.
What is included in the provided document?
The document includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It also presents the full text of President Bush's speech, serving as the primary source material for the fallacy analysis.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include logical fallacies in political discourse, analysis of President Bush's justification for war, the role of factual knowledge in identifying fallacies, the susceptibility of audiences to manipulative rhetoric, and the consequences of accepting fallacious arguments.
What is the purpose of including the full text of the speech?
The full text of President Bush's September 12, 2002 speech to the UN General Assembly is included to provide the context and content for the detailed fallacy analysis. It allows the reader to follow along with the identified fallacies within the original source material.
What are the key takeaways from the analysis?
The analysis highlights the importance of critical thinking and factual knowledge in evaluating political rhetoric. It demonstrates how logical fallacies can be used to manipulate audiences and the potential consequences of accepting such arguments without careful scrutiny.
What are some of the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Logical fallacies, political rhetoric, President George W. Bush, United Nations, War on Terror, Iraq, fallacy of content, appeal to pity, false dichotomy, appeal to force, appeal to ignorance, weak analogy, appeal to the people, appeal to unqualified authority, red herring, factual knowledge, persuasive techniques.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nicholas Haase (Autor:in), 2008, Detected fallacies in President George W. Bush`s speech, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/126642
