2020 Presidential-Debate B I NGO Appeal to Porcinocephalic Argumentum self-evident Psittacism Rodomontade refusal ad invidiam (44) (45) (43) truth (17) (5)
Argumentum Choplogic Ipse dixit Argumentum ad Argumentum ad ignorantiam (26) (37) misericordiam ad hominem (19) (16) (15)
Illeism Hyperbole Argumentum Erotesis ad crumenam (36) (34) Free (32) Space (14)
Inoratio Argument Sloganeering Epiplexis Tapinosis elenchi from normality (46) (28) (47) (35) (7)
Appeal to the Caconym Argumentum Argumentum Asteism common (25) ad judicium in terrorem (24) (18) (23) person (6)
For entertainment purposes only. 2020 Presidential-Debate BINGO by Bryan A. Garner As you watch the candidates Tuesday, pay attention to their modes of ar- gument. Try to identify as many modes and rhetorical devices as you can. Some but not all of these arguments are fallacious. Each statement you isolate can qualify in only one category. Here are your categories:
1. Apophasis /uh-POF-uh-sis/: mentioning 11. Argumentum ad baculum: depending on something while disclaiming to mention it. (“I physical force. (“The military will intervene if I won’t even mention the lie you told last week decide it’s necessary.”) about . . . .”) 12. Argumentum ad antiquitatem: the wisdom of 2. Aporia: professing not to know where to the ancients. (“Our forebears were much wiser begin. (“I don’t even know where to start in than people today are, and they said [X].”) answering that point.”) 13. Argumentum ad captandum: appealing to the 3. Appeal to definition: use of dictionary defi- audience’s emotions. (“Most of us know people nitions. (“The dictionary defines [milksop, who have died unnecessarily.”) autocrat, sociopath] as X. It’s clear that you fit 14. Argumentum ad crumenam: appealing to that definition.”) your pocketbook. (“You’ll have more money in 4. Appeal to divinity: invoking what God thinks. the bank if you vote for me.”) (“Christ himself would disapprove of what 15. Argumentum ad hominem: based on dispar- you’re suggesting.”) agement of the opponent. (“Everyone knows 5. Appeal to self-evident truth: the claim that you have no morals whatsoever.”) everybody knows something that many doubt. 16. Argumentum ad ignorantiam: based on the (“Everybody knows that your entire staff de- adversary’s ignorance. (“You don’t even know spises you.”) basic facts about [science, China, etc.].”) 6. Appeal to the common person: I’m a regular 17. Argumentum ad invidiam: appealing to guy like you. (“My fellow Americans, I under- hatred or prejudice. (“If you’re in control, the stand what you want. I’m one of you.”) [hated group] will be in control.”) 7. Argument from normality: appeal to stan- 18. Argumentum ad judicium: appealing to per- dards or norms. (“You have violated every tinent proofs. (Examples include marshaling standard of decent behavior.”) valid evidence and sticking to the point.) 8. Argumentum a simili: argument by analogy. 19. Argumentum ad misericordiam: appealing to (“If you can’t handle X, then just think what pity. (“I’ve been through more hardship than will happen if [Y].”) any other politician in memory.”) 9. Argumentum ab auctoritate: appealing to au- 20. Argumentum ad numeram: appeal to popu- thority. (“So-and-so [e.g., the Supreme Court] larity when popularity can’t establish the point. says I’m right.”) (“Polls show that most Americans think the 10. Argumentum ab impossibili: argument from coronavirus is/isn’t under control.”) impossibility. (“That’s simply impossible.”) ©2020 Bryan A. Garner 21. Argumentum ad populum: appealing to 36. Illeism: reference to oneself in the third per- crowds. (“I have bigger rallies than you!”) son. (“Let me tell you what [Biden] [Trump] 22. Argumentum ex silentio: argument based thinks”—in reference to the speaker himself.) on lack of solid evidence. (“There’s simply no 37. Ipse dixit: a totally unsupported assertion. evidence that . . . .”) (“It’s true because I say so.”) 23. Argumentum in terrorem: invocation of 38. Logomachy /luh-GOM-uh-kee/: a dispute over terror. (“If I’m not elected, horrible things will terminology. (An argument about the appro- happen to this country.”) priateness of certain words.) 24. Asteism: politely clever mockery. (“You 39. Metanoia /met-uh-NOY-uh/: correcting should know. You’re the President [or You oneself for rhetorical effect. (“I stand here as a were the Vice President], after all.”) candidate . . . well, no, as your President Elect 25. Caconym: use of an objectionable or inappro- as of November.”) priate term. (“China virus,” “deplorables,” etc.) 40. Non sequitur /non SEK-wi-tuhr/: a statement 26. Choplogic: an illogical argument based on that doesn’t follow. (“I’m the candidate you can trivial points that are impossible to follow. trust. I’m from New York/Delaware.”) (Find your own.) 41. Nosism /NOH-siz-uhm/: the use of we in ref- 27. Doublespeak: word choice made for the pur- erence to oneself. pose of deception or misrepresentation. (Find 42. Paralipsis /pa-ruh-LYP-sis/: a brief reference your own.) to something to emphasize the suggestiveness 28. Epiplexis: the use of rebuke or reproach. of what is omitted. (“I’ll mention only two (“Shame on you.”) of the hundreds of lies you’ve told in the last 29. Epithet: trying to name one’s opponent in month.”) a disparaging way. (Sleepy Joe/Crummy 43. Porcinocephalic refusal: pigheaded denial of Trump.) a point. (“You say there’s global warming. I just 30. Epitrope /ee-PI-truh-pee/: a declaration that don’t agree. I have nothing more to say. I just objective outside observers would side with don’t accept that.”) you. (“Let’s let the American people decide.”) 44. Psittacism /SIT-uh-siz-uhm/: thoughtless par- 31. Epizeuxis: emphatic repetition. (Look for roting of another’s words or ideas without any instances of saying something three times in personal understanding of what one is saying. quick succession.) 45. Rodomontade /rod-uh-mon-TAHD/: bluster- 32. Erotesis /er-oh-TEE-sis/: an unbroken series ing braggadocio; ranting self-praise. of rhetorical questions. (“Why should we be- 46. Sloganeering: the use of rallying cries or atten- lieve you? Why should anyone would believe tion-getting phrases instead of reasoning. you? How could any sensible person believe 47. Tapinosis /tap-i-NOH-sis/: the debasement of you?”) something by calling it by some undignified 33. Guilt by association: your comrades are bad, name. (“The flunkies that you call/called your and so you must be. (“Your friends and family Kitchen Cabinet.) have been found to be corrupt. We know that 48. Tu quoque /too KWOH-kwee/: a retort in you are, too.”) which the speaker says the opponent is just 34. Hyperbole: exaggeration of facts to distort. as bad or worse. (“You say I’m [X]. You’re the (Find your own.) same, but worse.”) 35. Ignoratio elenchi /ig-nor-AY-shee-oh i-LENG-kee/: trying to establish a point by ar- Bryan A. Garner is president of LawProse Inc. and guing irrelevancies. (“The wall does/does not author of Garner’s Modern English Usage. work. Crime is going down/up in our cities!”) ©2020 Bryan A. Garner