The ability to create strong, credible arguments is based on researching facts, and staying clear of logical fallacies. What is a logical fallacy? A logic fallacy is a statement that appears to be a logical argument, but is actually logically flawed. A common logical fallacy is contained in the following argument:

A: “Sri Mulyani is the best choice for Minister of Finance.”

B: “Well, you would say that, because you are a girl.”

Here, person B is not actually addressing the premise (who is the best choice for Minister of Finance) but instead is attacking person A stating that the premise is based on their gender. The gender of the person making the proposition should not need to be defended. This is called an ad hominem attack. Ad hominem translates into English as ‘attack upon the person’. We often see this type of logical fallacy in informal arguments in interpersonal relationships. The use of this fallacy is often so that the person making the counterpoint can side-step the actual premise of the argument and take control. Person B, using the logical fallacy, may be aware that person A may have access to statistics that back up their positions.

Another type of logical fallacy is the ‘slippery slope’ argument. The slippery slope argument proposes that if Situation A happens then Situation B must certainly follow. Your parents may argue that staying out beyond your curfew will lead to drinking, nightclubbing, and neglect of your studies. They might argue that coming home at 11.30pm is going to destroy your GPA. Since we all know that being late is a frequent phenomenon in Jakarta, we can see that this is clearly a scare-tactic on the behalf of your parents. The slippery slope argument is often used by politicians who claim that letting a small number of immigrants into their country equals the end of society itself. Another example of the slippery slope is the ban on certain phone applications or websites because of their potential to spread pornography or terrorist communications. Clearly, the vast majority communications on this platform are non-pornographic and non-terrorist related, but the government has decided that their potential is enough to threaten the decency of society. A similar ban was given to the Tumblr website and app, but the government reversed the decision when they made a deal with Tumblr.

The ‘slippery slope’ argument is so-called because it proposes that if we step foot downwards on a hill with a slippery slope we will not be able to control our fall to the bottom of the hill. It reinforces the idea that if we change the status quo (the way things are now) then we will face an inevitable downfall.

A further example of a logical fallacy is an ‘appeal to false authority’. This is commonly used in the advertising industry. Why is Cristiano Ronaldo recommending a particular brand of shampoo? As a footballer, does Mr. Ronaldo have the necessary qualifications to advise us on hair-care products? Of course not. But his image as a handsome and clean-cut athlete makes the audience believe in his endorsement. The use of someone’s skills in one field does not necessarily make them an expert in another field. And yet, we see celebrities endorsing products on television and billboards all the time. The false logic underlying this fallacy is that your A-list status naturally grants you a stronger ability to make better choices.