Red herring
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'''Red herring''' is an argument, given in reply, that does not address the original issue. Critically, a red herring is a deliberate attempt to change the subject or divert the argument. | '''Red herring''' is an argument, given in reply, that does not address the original issue. Critically, a red herring is a deliberate attempt to change the subject or divert the argument. | ||
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If, in a debate on the existence of god, a theist states: | If, in a debate on the existence of god, a theist states: | ||
Revision as of 21:57, 15 March 2008
Red herring is an argument, given in reply, that does not address the original issue. Critically, a red herring is a deliberate attempt to change the subject or divert the argument.
== Examples of Red herrings ==
If, in a debate on the existence of god, a theist states:
"God must be real, because if god were not real, I would have no reason to go on living."
Here, the theist makes a claim that provides no further evidence for the existence of a god, and in fact, makes a claim that leads to an entirely different topic of conversation.
