Appeal to ridicule

By: Elizabeth Bertram & Madison Woodcock ● Presenting the argument in such a way that makes the argument look ridiculous, usually by Definition misrepresenting the argument or by using exaggeration. slide: ● ● Appeal to ridicule can also be called appeal to mockery or horse laugh. Example: ● https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jrnJGpioI Picture Example: ● https://ww w.logicall yfallaciou s.com/tool s/lp/Bo/Lo gicalFalla Comparing the belief in God to belief cies/42/Ap in the Easter Bunny is an attempt at ridicule and not a good argument. peal-to-Ri In fact, this type of fallacy usually shows desperation in the one dicule committing the fallacy. “Evolution is the idea that humans come from pond scum.” Explanation: It is ridiculous to think that we come from pond scum, and it is not true. It is more accurate to say that we come from exploding stars as every atom in our bodies was once in a star. By creating a ridiculous and misleading image, the ● https://www.logic truth claim of the argument is overlooked. allyfallacious.co m/tools/lp/Bo/Log icalFallacies/42/ Appeal-to-Ridicul e Fallacies in THE Crucible: Example 1 1. Type of Fallacy- Appeal to Ridicule 2. Character- John Proctor 3. Quote- “There might also be a dragon with five legs in my house, but no one has ever seen it.” 4. Act 3, page 217 5. This quote mocks Hathorne while he was asking for a the poppet doll. Before this, Hathorne says that there may be a poppet in Proctor's house that no one had ever seen, so Proctor fires back that there might also be a dragon that no one had ever seen. He makes Hathorne look ridiculous in asking his question about the unseen poppet. Example 2 1. Type of Fallacy- Appeal to Ridicule 2. Character- John Proctor 3. Quote- “To live in, yes. But to ask ownership is like you shall own the meeting house itself; the last meeting I were at you spoke so long on deeds and mortgages I thought it were an auction.” 4. Act 1, page 181 5. In this quote, Proctor is mocking Parris by comparing him to an auctioneer and saying he speaks too long. He is starting an argument within an argument. Sources:

● https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFa llacies/42/Appeal-to-Ridicule ● Org, Inkeep. “Fallacy of Appeal to Ridicule - Winning Debates with Logic.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 Jan. 2015, m.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jrnJGpioI.