Question

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Darren

Avoiding The Issue vs Red Herring

Could someone clarify the difference between red herring and avoiding the issue ?

What would be an example of each fallacy that isn't the other?  

The entry on the website for  red herring  says:

"While it is similar to the avoiding the issue fallacy, the red herring is a deliberate diversion of attention with the intention of trying to abandon the original argument."

Isn't that true of avoiding the issue too?
asked on Sunday, Jul 31, 2022 05:09:37 PM by Darren

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TrappedPrior (RotE) writes:

It's another one of those cases where fallacies overlap, but I see what Dr Bo was getting at:

  • a  red herring  is more like a deliberate diversion of the argument
  • avoiding the issue  is more or less 'giving up', and not addressing the argument at all in one's response.
posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2022 05:31:42 PM

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Answers

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TrappedPrior (RotE)
4

A red herring is a deliberate attempt to redirect the argument. It's a form of misdirection, where the 'misdirector' attempts to get their interlocutor to abandon the original point.

E.g.

Kid: "Mum, why do you leave the house at 10 every night, and only come back really late?"

Mother: *growl* "How do you know what time it was, huh? Why weren't you sleeping?"

The mother has changed the issue.

avoiding the issue is a non sequitur but within the context of a conversation. The 'misdirector' makes a statement unrelated to anything previously discussed. Unlike the red herring, it just avoids the argument.

E.g.

Kid: "Mum, why do you leave the house at 10 every night, and only come back really late?"

Mother: *sigh* "You talk too much, Billy."

The mother is avoiding the issue.
answered on Sunday, Jul 31, 2022 05:28:46 PM by TrappedPrior (RotE)

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Darren writes:

Thanks.

posted on Sunday, Jul 31, 2022 05:51:11 PM
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Nico Will writes:

Isn't the first example more of a tu quoque fallacy than a red herring?

posted on Sunday, Aug 07, 2022 08:40:13 PM