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Reductio ad Absurdum

 

Disciplines Argument > Fallacies > Reductio ad Absurdum

Description | Discussion | Example | See also

 

Description

If X is false, then the situation would be absurd. So X is true.

When you want to prove something is true, indicate that if it were false, then the situation would be plainly ridiculous and things might happen that are obviously nonsensical. Make it seem that anyone who believes that the item is false would also be ridiculous and unworthy.

A variant on this is to start by assuming several things might be true, then show that if the (desired) item is true then other items must be false.

Example

If you can't float on water then you would sink like a stone and walk on the bottom of the ocean.

If people didn't talk to one another, then there would be no society.

If you were the unhappiest person in the world then you would probably die from sadness. You are still here so you cannot be that unhappy.

Discussion

'Reductio ad absurdum' means 'reduction to the absurd' and reflects the method of creating an absurd situation rather than there being true absurdness naturally present.

This way of arguing works on the basic principle of offering the other person agreement or stupidity. In effect, it says 'If you do not agree then stupid things would happen and so you are stupid'.

The real fallacy within the argument is that an extreme alternative to agreement is used rather than considering more moderate and realistic alternatives. When arguments are taken to extreme, then most things will appear ridiculous.

Classification

Distraction, Falsehood, Threat

Also known as

Ad Absurdum, Reductio ad Ridiculum

See also

Strawman, Appeal to Ridicule, Contrast principle

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

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© Changing Works 2002-
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