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May 12, 2016: Dr RNM
I noted:
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
This fallacy is a particular irritant and was as well, before I was an academic. But I will attempt objectivity.
Quote
'The argumentum ad populum appeals to popular attitudes instead of presenting relevant material. In other words, it is based on prejudice. It exploits the known propensity of people to accept that which fits in comfortably with their preconceptions. The popular prejudices may or may not be justified, but the speaker who makes his case depend solely upon them is guilty of an ad populum fallacy. Pirie (165).
Further, the author explains that this fallacy can inflame passions and prejudices more appropriate to mass hysteria than to rational discourse. (165). Those that use this fallacy 'take the easy way out'. (165). Playing on the emotions of the multitude. (165). Or, trusting in that fallacious type of thinking in regard to personal preferences and convictions, as opposed to researching and asking God for truth, even if that is uncomfortable truth.
Blackburn agrees with Pirie, basically, stating that this fallacy is 'appealing to the prejudices of the people.' (24).
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Mr. Matt on Monday evening in Vancouver, mentioned the need to be humble in regard to receiving teaching from senior well-known, popular, respected Christian academics.
I agree, however:
Based on years of academic research, I think there are some well-educated bloggers, pastors and other teachers that have more intellectual insights than some well-known, popular, theologians and academics, including those reviewed in my British theses work.
On some points, not on every point.
At most points, humanly speaking in finite terms, I consider myself prinarily the student and submit to the teacher (s). Of course God in Scripture is the infinite teacher.
Isaiah 48:17-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go. 18 “If only you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your [a]well-being would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Footnotes: Isaiah 48:18 Or peace
But there are times, with God's help, I may be placed in the teacher position and favour my own researched and reasoned views over popular ones.
Therefore, the argumentum ad populum should not be used.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
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Cited
'Popeye Cigarettes marketed using the Popeye character were sold for a while and had red tips (to look like a lit cigarette) before being renamed candy sticks and being manufactured without the red tip.'
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