Diogenes Laertius has handed down to us some fascinating source material in his work Lives of Eminent Philosophers
Books on Logic and Logical Fallacies Recommended By Henry A. Virkler
In his book A Christian’s Guide To Critical Thinking, Henry A. Virkler recommends the following books on Logic and Logical Fallacies:
Vincent E. Barry and Douglas J. Soccio, Practical Logic
Stuart Chase, Guides to Straight Thinking: With 13 Common Fallacies
Irving M. Copi, Introduction to Logic
S. Morris Engel, With Good Reason: An Introduction to Informal Fallacies
C. L. Hamblin, Fallacies
Madsen Pirie, The Book of the Fallacy: A Training Manual for Intellectual Subversives
Argumentum ad misericordiam
Tomorrow I must turn in grades for the classes I taught at the college this Spring. Over the last few weeks I have fielded no less than nine appeals for mercy.
“If I don’t make a good grade I will lose my scholarship.”
“If I don’t make a good grade it will look bad on my pageant documentation.”
“I would have done better but ….
Well you get the idea.
These appeals to mercy are know as the argumentum ad misericordiam fallacy. In the Fall I plan on starting the semester with a discussion of it. Rather than present a reasoned argument with supporting information the appellant makes an attempt to evoke sympathy. Even if logically irrelevant such an argument can be successful if the one to whom the plea is made is a compassionate bloke. Personally, I would prefer that they bring me a shiny red apple — or a cup of Starbucks coffee.
