PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
Unit 8 Discussion Assignment
Multimedia Fallacies
Step 1. Review a few web resources on fallacies.
Step 2. Find an online example of a fallacy contained in a cartoon or video.
Step 3.
• Clearly state the fallacy your example represents.
• Share your reconstructed fallacy and make sure to present the full argument (that the
video, image or cartoon suggests) by identifying its implicit premise(s) and conclusion.
• Explain why you think this is a good example of the fallacy.
Step 4.
Read and respond to other students’ posts with substantial comments that answer these questions:
• Do you think their reconstruction of the fallacy is well done? If not, how would you
econstruct it?
• Do you think their multi-media represents the fallacy they claimed? If not, what fallacy
do you think it represents?
• What variations on their fallacy have you encountered, if any? Or have you seen thei
multi-media example somewhere before and were you aware that it represented a
fallacy?
There are many websites that provide information on both formal and informal fallacies. For
example: Logically Fallacious; the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (entry on "Fallacies");
the Nizkor Project; and the Fallacy Files. Your discussion assignment is to take a look at each
of these sites and, if you're interested, find the fallacies that co
espond to those that we’ve
studied so far.
After you feel comfortable recognizing fallacies of failed or flawed induction, conduct a
search online and find one video or cartoon example for one of these fallacies. Your multi-
media example must take the form of a video/image/cartoon (check out YouTube, for
instance, or search for the fallacies in cartoon banks). The Cartoon Network, Family Guy,
South Park or even just plain old cartoon websites are good places to look.
Once you've located the example, reconstruct the fallacy from the video or cartoon. You can
efer back to the Logically Fallacious site, which we used in Unit 7 discussion to find
additional examples and logical forms for your fallacies. Embed the multi-media example on
the Discussion Forum (or you can paste in the link), and include your reconstruction and
analysis. Be sure to address the following:
http:
www.fallacyfiles.org/index.html
https:
iep.utm.edu/fallacy/30
https:
www.nizkor.org/fallacies
https:
www.fallacyfiles.org/howtouff.html
https:
www.logicallyfallacious.com
https:
www.logicallyfallacious.com
PHIL110 Critical Thinking – SPS CUNY
• Do you have any questions for them regarding the content of their multi-media or about
the process of identifying the fallacy?
Recommendations for Success and Grading Criteria:
• Respond to the assignment with clear and detailed answers.
• Follow all assignment prompts and answer all prompt questions.
• Incorporate relevant examples and evidence to support your claims.
• Compose your response in clear and grammatically co
ect English and post it on time.
• Respond to at least two students with substantive comments and follow-up questions.
• Acknowledge all students who comment on your post.