When you make a straw man argument, you’re essentially arguing against an imaginary scarecrow. You can make any argument you want and the scarecrow won’t argue back. In fact, you can position it any way you want, tailoring it into the perfect position for you to argue against.
What is a straw man argument?
The straw man fallacy is the logical fallacy of distorting an opposing position into an extreme version of itself and then arguing against that extreme version.
- In doing this, the arguer strips the opposing point of view of any nuance and often misrepresents it in a negative light.
History of the Straw Man Fallacy
The straw man fallacy dates back to Martin Luther in his 1520 book On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church
- He claimed that one of the church’s criticisms of him was that he argued against serving the Eucharist according to one serving practice despite never actually making the argument
- Scholars agree that the term originated with the idea of setting up a simplistic imagined opponent that’s easy to knock down
Straw man argument examples
Because of the thefts in our building, I think we should add more security cameras.
- Person 2: So you’re saying you don’t trust your neighbors?
- Straw man arguments often arise as reactions to others’ statements.
How does a straw man argument work?
Strawman arguments are constructed by presenting the opposing position as a warped, extreme version of itself
- Oversimplifying it
- Focusing on just one part of the opposing argument
- Taking it out of context
- Presenting a fringe or extreme version as the mainstream version of it
Some examples of a straw man argument
Person 1: Because of the thefts in our building, I think we should add more security cameras. Person 2: So you’re saying you don’t trust your neighbors?
When and why is the straw man fallacy used?
People use straw man arguments for a variety of reasons
- To turn the opponent into a boogeyman that is easy to rally supporters against
- Due to a genuine misunderstanding of the opponent’s position
- The easiest way to identify a straw man argument is to determine whether an argument sounds too simple or extreme to be true
- Example: My opponent hates animals and doesn’t care how many will be displaced by his project.
How to Counter a Straw Man Argument
Restate your position in the clearest, most definitive language possible
- Ask your opponent to elaborate on their claim
- Pointing out that your opponent is misrepresenting you
- Call it what it is: a straw man argument
- Before representing an opposing argument in your writing, be sure you understand it accurately
