JamesDillon
Master Poster
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2006
- Messages
- 2,631
Welcome to JREF.
PS I have a hard time believing you haven't already figured this out, but FYI if, during a discussion/debate, someone starts repeating the same JREF pet phrase (eg "straw man," "ad hom" etc) over and over in a given thread, that's a clear warning sign that it's probably best to cut your losses and move on, as the person in question isn't likely interested in any real discussion, but rather is much more interested in "putting you in your place." However, I applaud your patience and efforts.
I had a feeling after your last post that you'd be rather disappointed with the "discussion" that the thread generated after you actually read through it
One insight with perhaps some value that did occur to me in reflecting on the above discussion, though, is that even the classic straw man argument (i.e., when the term is used legitimately and not simply to characterize any statement with which one disagrees) isn't so much a logical fallacy as a rhetorical error. The proponent of such an argument may have a logically valid rebuttal to the position he or she creates; the problem is that that argument isn't the one actually being put forth by the other side. Of course, I suppose an argument of the form:
1. [Straw Man Argument]
2. Therefore, the position taken by my opponent is wrong.
is logically invalid, but that's a simple non sequitur. So, there was at least something of value generated, if indirectly, by my discussion with Thomas.