how do you define a "straw man argument"?

Question

what's the best way to describe a "straw man argument" to my 15-year-old nephew? thanks

Answer 1

An argument that exaggerates and made to give a false or mock image of the opponent's argument.

Common examples in recent debates are:
"How can you believe that a monkey one day gave birth to a man? Evolution makes no sense."
"How can you believe that some supernatural being made everything appear out of thin air one day? Creationism makes no sense."

Answer 2

A strawman is something with little substance which is easily knocked down. In a strawman argument, someone makes a dumb supposition which is supposed to represent what the opponent wants and then knocks it down, supposedly ruining the opponents position. But his is a falacy.

In arguing about gay marriage, one might say something like, "If we allow gay marriage then everyone will stop having babies and the human race will cease to exist!"

In this case you set up the strawman that if we allow gay marriage, everyone will stop having babies. And then you knocked that down by saying it will cause the extinction of humans. If someone does not exam the logic of this closely they might think that "yeah, gay marriage would he horrible".

Of course, it is absurd to think that if we allow gay marriage everyone will stop having babies because obviously only a smalll number of people would be involved in a gay marriage and they can still have babies. So your position would be falacious.

Answer 3

Can you Explain what a "STRAW MAN ARGUMENT" is to me also?

Answer 4

calling hillary the hildabeast is very childish. immature. how then do repubs become richer than us?

Answer 5

Thanks! I wasn't too sure of it myself!