Plant Research Term Project, Part 2: Faulty Argumentation 40 points
Peppercute
EXAMPLE.docxExample of Faulty Argument found in literature
This excerpt is taken from a website touting the benefits of alkaline foods in the diet. It is a prime example of how science is maligned in favor of false authorities and popular myths. The various faulty arguments are labeled parenthetically in red.
Alkaline Diet Scientific Proof
"The alkaline diet works. That is a fact. An irrefutable, scientific fact, as I am about to prove to you. (strong arm tactics, false claim, glittering generality)
Even without the science I know it works. I’ve seen way too many results in my life, in my family’s life, in my friends lives, and in the lives of the thousands of people I’ve coached, taught or had random emails from after they’ve actioned what I teach on this site. (appeal to authority, testimonial, band wagon, ad populum)
BUT, I know it’s important for people to see the science, read the facts and see the proof before they commit.
And with more and more celebrities seemingly adopting this approach to health, there is the risk it’s going to be chewed and spat out by Hollywood and the media." (appeal to authority)
"You’re Not Trying to Alkalise Your Body: confused now? Let me explain.
The purpose of the alkaline diet is not to try and increase the alkalinity of your blood, cells or any other part of your body. This is the chief ‘told you so’ point of the detractors of the alkaline diet. They say ‘there’s no point doing the alkaline diet because the body has mechanisms to ensure you NEVER deviate from pH 7.365’. I agree – that’s exactly the point. (jargon)
So today I’m going to share my updated ‘Alkaline Diet Proof‘ catalogue with you. This is just a handful of the articles I’ve collected over the past 9 years (I’m a research geek from my academic days).
"This is the second important point: the alkaline diet JUST MAKES SENSE! (circular reasoning) Try not to get too caught up in the science of it all. ( false dichotomy) The scientific proof and scientific background of the alkaline diet is there, that’s without question – but don’t fall into the trap of not seeing the wood for the trees!" (false analogy)
"The alkaline diet is really simple and common sense. When people (friends, family, doctors, other websites, troublemakers(!) and the like) try to question the alkaline approach, they usually go headfirst into a bunch of psudoscience, fuzzy logic and chemistry (largely based upon the incorrect assumption outlined above). (first of all, chemistry does NOT belong in that catagory with fuzzy logic and pseudoscience, secondly this is prejudice and sterotype)
"“Recent studies support that dietary acid reduction with oral sodium based alkali or base-inducing food types add kidney protection to that provided by current kidney-protective interventions. Recent studies suggest that metabolic acidosis mediates nephropathy progression, and its treatment with the comparatively inexpensive and well tolerated intervention of dietary acid reduction holds promise to be an additional kidney-protective strategy in CKD management. (full of meaningless jargon)
Overall, he is trying to make you feel clever for not being fooled by science when he is the one fooling you.
