A new semi-fallacy in Trump's speech?
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Original Question
Hi. I can't believe I registered just to ask this one question, but I wanted verification on my observation from someone who has expertise. :-)
I am noting that Donald Trump, more than any other politician I have seen, has a way of making an argument in which he leaves off in the middle of an idea, leaving the listener to fill in the logically fallacious conclusion. He does not actually do it himself. Would this fall under one of your categories? After all, the person speaking does not actually make the false statement, but relies on the seeming direction of his words, which only go part way down the path to a conclusion, and the biases of his audience, to allow the false logic to take effect.
I have no great list of examples, though I think you can see it at play in a quote from Mr. Trump in a Guardian article, "From Trump to Brexit rhetoric: how today's politicians have got away with words." If this doe not make it clear, I will look for other examples.
Thanks!
I am noting that Donald Trump, more than any other politician I have seen, has a way of making an argument in which he leaves off in the middle of an idea, leaving the listener to fill in the logically fallacious conclusion. He does not actually do it himself. Would this fall under one of your categories? After all, the person speaking does not actually make the false statement, but relies on the seeming direction of his words, which only go part way down the path to a conclusion, and the biases of his audience, to allow the false logic to take effect.
I have no great list of examples, though I think you can see it at play in a quote from Mr. Trump in a Guardian article, "From Trump to Brexit rhetoric: how today's politicians have got away with words." If this doe not make it clear, I will look for other examples.
Thanks!
Answers
2I would say that this is a form of Argument from Silence . Rather than remaining completely silent and giving a look, one can make verbal implications.
Trump on replacing Obamacare (actual quote from Dr. Oz interview)
Trump: We have to come up, and we can come up with many different plans. In fact, plans you don't even know about will be devised because we're going to come up with plans, -- health care plans -- that will be so good.
No substance, but those who trust him trust that he has a huge, terrific, idea. The best. Okay?
This can also be considered Argument by Gibberish
Trump's assertions are sometimes expressed as 'excluding the middle' or the false dilemma fallacy, in other words he proposes it is either his way or and extreme leftest view. Political rants are so riddled and diddled with logical fallacies, and appealing to herd response, and supposed arguing from popularity, that it is hardly worth going very far with logical competence gere.
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