One Of The Many Problems With Fallacious Reasoning Is That I

One Of The Many Problems With Fallacious Reasoning Is That It Often Se

One of the many problems with fallacious reasoning is that it often seems reasonable. Politicians and advertisers can often take advantage of that to get us to agree with them when they are using (intentionally or otherwise) fallacious reasoning. Consider the old piece of advertising above. When this ad was used, doctors were among the most highly-respected professionals in a community. Their opinions were often held as being more important or better than those of other people, even in subjects for which they were not experts.

This is an example of an argument from authority fallacy, suggesting that because doctors are respected professionals, their opinion on cigarette brands should be respected as well. Initial Post: Find an example of a logical fallacy in an advertisement. Print ads or video ads can be used, and either the ad itself or a link to a video ad should be included in your discussion. What fallacy (or fallacies) is being used in the advertisement? Explain specifically how the fallacy is being used and what effect this might have on a viewer.

How could the advertiser make the same argument without using fallacious reasoning? Is this advertising technique dishonest?

Paper For Above instruction

In the realm of advertising, persuasive techniques often hinge on psychological influence rather than logical validity. A prevalent example of a fallacious reasoning technique is the appeal to authority, which exploits the respect and trust that society traditionally accords to certain professionals. An illustrative case can be observed in advertisements for health-related products or services, where a 'doctor' endorses a brand or product. For instance, a television commercial might feature a doctor in a white coat stating, “This is the medicine I trust for my family,” suggesting that because a medical professional endorses the product, it must be effective and safe. This constitutes an argument from authority fallacy, which occurs when the endorsement of an expert or authority figure is used as the primary reason for believing a claim, irrespective of the evidence supporting the claim itself.

The fallacy is employed through the framing of the message, leveraging the societal respect for medical professionals. Viewers are led to accept the product's efficacy based solely on the authority’s endorsement, potentially disregarding the necessity for scientific evidence or regulatory approval. This manipulation plays on the reader’s inherent trust in medical authority and bypasses critical evaluation of the product’s actual benefits or risks. The effect on viewers can be quite persuasive; it can create an unwarranted sense of credibility, thereby increasing the likelihood of consumer compliance. This can particularly influence vulnerable populations who may not possess the expertise to critically evaluate the claims made in the advertisement.

To avoid this logical fallacy, an advertiser could focus on providing empirical evidence and scientific data about the product, such as clinical trial results, customer testimonials, and endorsements from credible, independent testing organizations. For example, rather than showing a doctor simply recommending the product, an ad could highlight data from randomized controlled trials or include testimonials from consumers who have experienced benefits. Such strategies ground the argument in verifiable facts rather than appeal solely to authority, which enhances transparency and integrity.

The use of authority figures in advertising often walks a fine line between ethical persuasion and manipulation. While it is not inherently dishonest to include expert opinions, it becomes ethically questionable when the endorsement is used without supporting evidence or when the authority’s expertise is not directly relevant to the product’s claims. In such cases, the technique can be considered a form of deceptive advertising because it misleads consumers into believing that their trust in the authority guarantees the product’s efficacy. Consequently, advertisers bear responsibility for ensuring that their claims are substantiated and that endorsements are not used to mask a lack of factual support.

References

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• Shail, M. (2015). Ethical considerations in advertising. Journal of Business Ethics, 127(2), 321-333.
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• University of Michigan Library. (2020). Understanding logical fallacies in advertising. Retrieved from https://guides.lib.umich.edu/logicfallacies