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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| French or Latin; French, from [[Latin]] ridiculum jest | | French or Latin; French, from [[Latin]] ridiculum jest |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1690] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1690] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *: the [[act]] of ridiculing : derision, mockery | | *: the [[act]] of ridiculing : derision, mockery |
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| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | [[Appeal]] to '''ridicule''', also called appeal to mockery, the Horse Laugh, or reductio ad ridiculum ([[Latin]]: "reduction to the ridiculous"), is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy logical fallacy] which presents the [[opponent]]'s [[argument]] in a way that appears ridiculous, often to the extent of creating a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man straw man] of the [[actual]] [[argument]], rather than addressing the [[argument]] itself. For example: | + | [[Appeal]] to '''ridicule''', also called appeal to mockery, the Horse Laugh, or reductio ad ridiculum ([[Latin]]: "reduction to the ridiculous"), is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy logical fallacy] which presents the [[opponent]]'s [[argument]] in a way that appears ridiculous, often to the extent of creating a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man straw man] of the [[actual]] [[argument]], rather than addressing the [[argument]] itself. For example: |
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| *"If [[Einstein]]'s theory of [[relativity]] is right, that would mean that when I drive my car it gets shorter and more massive the faster I go. That's crazy!" (This is, in [[fact]], true, but the [[effect]] is so minuscule that a human [[observer]] will not notice the effect at speeds far less than the [[speed of light]].) | | *"If [[Einstein]]'s theory of [[relativity]] is right, that would mean that when I drive my car it gets shorter and more massive the faster I go. That's crazy!" (This is, in [[fact]], true, but the [[effect]] is so minuscule that a human [[observer]] will not notice the effect at speeds far less than the [[speed of light]].) |
| *"[[Evolution]] is ridiculous! If evolution were true, that would mean that all the apes wouldn't be here any more, since they all would have evolved into [[humans]]!" (This is not implied by the theory of evolution, thus the [[argument]] is false.) | | *"[[Evolution]] is ridiculous! If evolution were true, that would mean that all the apes wouldn't be here any more, since they all would have evolved into [[humans]]!" (This is not implied by the theory of evolution, thus the [[argument]] is false.) |
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− | This is a [[rhetorical]] tactic which mocks an [[opponent]]'s [[argument]], attempting to [[inspire]] an [[emotion]]al [[reaction]] (making it a type of [[appeal]] to [[emotion]]) in the [[audience]] and to highlight the counter-intuitive aspects of that argument, making it appear [[foolish]] and contrary to common sense. This is typically done by [[demonstrating]] the [[argument]]'s [[logic]] in an [[extreme]]ly [[absurd]] way or by presenting the argument in an overly [[simplified]] way, and often involves an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_consequences appeal to consequences]. | + | This is a [[rhetorical]] tactic which mocks an [[opponent]]'s [[argument]], attempting to [[inspire]] an [[emotion]]al [[reaction]] (making it a type of [[appeal]] to [[emotion]]) in the [[audience]] and to highlight the counter-intuitive aspects of that argument, making it appear [[foolish]] and contrary to common sense. This is typically done by [[demonstrating]] the [[argument]]'s [[logic]] in an [[extreme]]ly [[absurd]] way or by presenting the argument in an overly [[simplified]] way, and often involves an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_consequences appeal to consequences]. |
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| Appeal to Ridicule is often found in the form of challenging one's credentials or maturity; | | Appeal to Ridicule is often found in the form of challenging one's credentials or maturity; |
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| The [[argument]] is ridiculed on the basis that having a view commonly associated with [[youth]] is somehow invalid. | | The [[argument]] is ridiculed on the basis that having a view commonly associated with [[youth]] is somehow invalid. |
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− | Although they appear very similar, this [[fallacy]] should not be confused with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum reductio ad absurdum], which is a valid [[type]] of logical [[argument]]. | + | Although they appear very similar, this [[fallacy]] should not be confused with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum reductio ad absurdum], which is a valid [[type]] of logical [[argument]]. |
| ==See also== | | ==See also== |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignoratio_elenchi#Red_herring Red Herring] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignoratio_elenchi#Red_herring Red Herring] |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man Straw man] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man Straw man] |
| ==References== | | ==References== |
− | [http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-ridicule.html Nizkor Project - Appeal to Ridicule] | + | [https://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/appeal-to-ridicule.html Nizkor Project - Appeal to Ridicule] |
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| [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] |