The best online Debate website - DebateIsland.com! The only Online Debate Website with Casual, Persuade Me, Formalish, and Formal Online Debate formats. We’re the Leading Online Debate website. Debate popular topics, Debate news, or Debate anything! Debate online for free!
Have logical fallacies become too convoluted to the point of being self-defeating?
in Philosophy
Debra AI Prediction
Arguments
  Considerate: 84%  
  Substantial: 90%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 93%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 13.4  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 96%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 93%  
  Substantial: 97%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 13.18  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 84%  
  Substantial: 87%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 97%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 13.14  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 99%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 76%  
  Substantial: 6%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.12  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 99%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 95%  
  Substantial: 40%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 9.98  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 49%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 81%  
  Substantial: 88%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.3  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
I don't know if you've actually looked at my argument for climate change, but if you did you didn't look well because pretty much the entirety of what I posted is that you need to look at the actual data.
Also you seem to be equivocating quite badly here. Apparently it is fallacious (Or at least not not fallacious) but still shouldn't be dismissed. So does it exist in some state of quantum relevance, where it both is and is not a valid argument simultaneously?
  Considerate: 82%  
  Substantial: 95%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.24  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 99%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 95%  
  Substantial: 24%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 5.3  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 97%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 69%  
  Substantial: 21%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.16  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 93%  
  Learn More About Debra
Contrary to what you might believe it isn't a case of experts picking numbers out of thin air, it's a case of data being gathered and presented in graph format. It doesn't matter who does the gathering and presentation, whether it's an expert of an amateur, as long as the methodology of how the data was gathered and presented is sound and it is documented so that it can be checked.
That's the basis of what makes something worthwhile evidence, if there is factual data supporting it - not just because someone put their name behind it.
Also you haven't clarified your equivocation.
  Considerate: 90%  
  Substantial: 88%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.58  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 72%  
  Learn More About Debra
It's data that is given to you from another source. The data can't be empirically validated. That would make it a fact. It's fallacious. You need some empirical data?
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 82%  
  Substantial: 49%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 7.56  
  Sources: 1  
  Relevant (Beta): 97%  
  Learn More About Debra
I'm in the process.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 94%  
  Substantial: 19%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 9.08  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 98%  
  Learn More About Debra
What you have in that Climate debate is pretty much "but, but, muh science book !"
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 92%  
  Substantial: 31%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.54  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 95%  
  Learn More About Debra
I don't expect you to understand, you still think you're a monkey on a spinning ball.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 22%  
  Substantial: 47%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 6.56  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 97%  
  Learn More About Debra
Sounds like sour grapes from someone who almost constantly relies on the argument of "A random unqualified person on the internet claimed this is true with no proof!" and has seen someone produce testable evidence to back up their views.
Also, humans are apes. Like it's not even up for debate. Even if you don't believe in evolution, we classify animals based on their shared characteristics. Even if you think God just happened to create the great apes in a way where they share a lot of characteristics, those characteristics have lead humans, chimps, gorillas, etc to all be classified under the Hominadae family of great apes.
Lastly, feel free to tout your flat eartherism all you want. It just makes me look better by comparison to the person insisting we live on a flat earth.
That said, I do as always suggest you look to get the help of a mental healthcare professional as your disconnect from reality is genuinely worrying.
  Considerate: 70%  
  Substantial: 92%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.26  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 98%  
  Learn More About Debra
Edit: Testable evidence he says!
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 62%  
  Substantial: 60%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.8  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 83%  
  Learn More About Debra
The issue then seems to be your reading comprehension.
Just to give one example, you attacked me as someone who believes humans are monkeys. In fact that's incorrect and I have never claimed that (humans are a type of ape, not monkey) but regardless I responded to your underlying logic and explained how there is no real argument for humans not being apes even if you don't believe in evolution.
If you disagree with my points then feel free to respond with a rationale for why they are incorrect, but by pretending you can't see them you just look disingenuous and illiterate.
  Considerate: 49%  
  Substantial: 95%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 12.76  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 73%  
  Substantial: 22%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.02  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 97%  
  Learn More About Debra
" It's data that is given to you from another source. The data can't be empirically validated. That would make it a fact. It's fallacious."
But you know the difference between a monkey and an ape! Tell me again, why do you believe you come from apes?
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 50%  
  Substantial: 61%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 95%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 5.96  
  Sources: 1  
  Relevant (Beta): 96%  
  Learn More About Debra
@Erfisflat ha, ha, ha .. "indoctrination pamphlet", .. where you come up with this stuff, lol!? Love it, and so true.
I mean come on, "look at the actual data"?
Hey Erfisflat, lets you and I go to the beach with all kinds of gauges, cameras, petri dishes (make it look all science-like) and video the tide going out, and show how the "Ocean water level are falling" by the hour, signifying another Ice-Age. The data is there.
  Considerate: 80%  
  Substantial: 59%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 79%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 6.64  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 83%  
  Learn More About Debra
You claim that I am making a semantic difference. 'Not answering any of your points' and 'answering most of your points' are actually very different things, so obviously not a case of mere semantics.Rather, as always, it's a case of you making false claims because you can't accept reality. And where is your reply to my rebuttal of your points? You show yourself to be a hypocrite by demanding responses to my points while refusing to give responses to mine.
What's the matter, going to have to concede again?
In your next sentence, you again make a load of false claims, seemingly because you don't even know what basic scientific words means.
You state " It's data that is given to you from another source. The data can't be empirically validated. That would make it a fact. It's fallacious."
However the data is empirically validated. Empirical means "based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic." The data points referenced for the global temperate were collected by actual observatories, not just by theorising what it could be, hence it is empirical.
Your claim that empirical evidence is automatically fact is of course equally proposterous to anyone who knows what they're talking about. As discussed, empirical means verified by actual observation e.g. scientific studies. Scientific studies can be wrong - indeed I could give examples of studies which are empirical but come to mutually exclusive results. This is because experiments, observations and empirical evidence can be flawed, hence the necessity to review the evidence critically.
As to what comment you expect in relation to a random video presented without comment, I have no idea. More symptoms of your underlying problem, I would assume.
Lastly, of course we come from apes. There is no argument that we don't. Even if you believe humans were created by god 6,000 years ago, presumably your parents were humans - Homo Sapiens, yes? And Homo Sapien is part of the ape family, yes?
Humans being apes isn't something where we even reach evolution in the argument., it's down to the binomial classification system. If God created Humans and Gorillas and Chimpanzees 6K years ago, we're still apes because we classify genus, families, suborders, etc on shared characteristics and we share the same characteristics as apes whether you believe they came from evolution or magic.
  Considerate: 66%  
  Substantial: 75%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 94%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.26  
  Sources: 1  
  Relevant (Beta): 65%  
  Learn More About Debra
You have a time machine? If so, I concede that the data is empirical, because you can go back in time and physically observe and experience the average worldwide tempurature on any given day. You don't have to take the experts word that any data was fudged.
The video was of an ultra zoomed star. You know, what your heliocentric priests claim is a giant ball of burning gas comparable to our sun, only trillions of miles away?
Lastly, you know the difference between a monkey and an ape, but not a human and an ape. Expert classification based on evolutionary assumptions is begging the question.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 71%  
  Substantial: 65%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.46  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 81%  
  Learn More About Debra
Lastly, to tick off your points one by one:
- You don't need to personally observe experiments for them to be empirical. Note how that is not a part of the definition. Now if you want to claim there is some reason that every single thing has to be personally observed then feel free to make that argument, but don't try and make it seem reasonable by conflating it with empiricism.
- Okay, it's a video of a start. Great.
- Taxominic classifications were around long before evolution. Regardless of how you think life began and has changed, apes do share 97%+ of our dna and a multitude of physical and societal features. If evolution were universally rejected by every single person tomorrow, we would still want to classify the similarities between different types of animals and we would classify humans as apes because the similarities between apes and humans are modern day observable facts that do not rely on evolution. All that would change is that we would consider there to be a different cause for these similarities.
  Considerate: 73%  
  Substantial: 91%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.98  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 94%  
  Learn More About Debra
https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/nikon-coolpix-p900
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 76%  
  Substantial: 85%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.44  
  Sources: 3  
  Relevant (Beta): 59%  
  Learn More About Debra
"Note how that is not a part of the definition."
It is. "Observed or experienced"? do we need to pull up some definitions? When you take a graph, that is subject to falsification as infallible, you are committing a logical fallacy whether you want to admit it or not.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 80%  
  Substantial: 78%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.72  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 96%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 86%  
  Substantial: 40%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 5.88  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 96%  
  Learn More About Debra
Great, I look forward to you posting a video tonight of this star on youtube, with the video beforehand showing your username and the date written in hand on a piece of paper or cardboard or whatever so we know it's you. As you like to constantly say how much you love doing experiments and you obviously have the equipment available as you've done this already, i look forward to you putting your money where.
Why should they? And why does it matter to this debate?
Also jut for your reference as it doesn't actually matter, the great apes are collectively around 97%. Chimpanzees are 98% and you are at 99% because we all have genetic differences from each other that set us apart in terms of height, skin colour, predisposition to different genetic conditions, etc and there is no one single perfect genetic human template. Gibbons are 96%.
  Considerate: 91%  
  Substantial: 80%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.3  
  Sources: 1  
  Relevant (Beta): 57%  
  Learn More About Debra
...you obviously have the equipment available as you've done this already"
I send a link to a rental site, and you still refuse to do anything for youself, assuming I already have the camera handy, am not getting summer evening showers, and am willing to prove anything to you.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 76%  
  Substantial: 53%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.42  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 40%  
  Learn More About Debra
You're all talk. Knew it.
  Considerate: 56%  
  Substantial: 17%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 4.34  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 96%  
  Learn More About Debra
Some has programmed the computer that records the temperate and gathers the data, there the data is subject to human error or manipulation. Then the scientists must interpret the data and produce the graph more room for human error or manipulation. It's not infallible by any means. It is a logical fallacy from authority
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 97%  
  Substantial: 92%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.78  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 95%  
  Learn More About Debra
I asked you a question. "For, say, the Global Mean Surface Temperature, do scientists get this via theories or via observing the temperature in numerous locations across the globe?" Answer it and stop dodging.
  Considerate: 95%  
  Substantial: 58%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.36  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 87%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 89%  
  Substantial: 17%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 6.54  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 91%  
  Learn More About Debra
If you'd like to bring up any specific issues of fallibility feel free, though that is a separate issue.
  Considerate: 92%  
  Substantial: 70%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.7  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 98%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 93%  
  Substantial: 14%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 90%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 7.46  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 87%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 96%  
  Substantial: 38%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 95%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 7.54  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 64%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 81%  
  Substantial: 72%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.36  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 79%  
  Learn More About Debra
I think you need to look up the definition of the words you are using and try again.
The two contrary methods of discerning the truth are the empirical and rationalist methods. Empiricism relies on observation, testing and using your senses while rationalism relies on logic, thought and reason rather than actually testing truths. If you rely on observations, even if you don't use them yourself, you are using the empirical method.
Also an appeal to authority is where you rely on an authority's opinion rather than looking at the data. If you are looking at the data to come to your own conclusions, you are not relying on their opinion and are instead actually checking the facts.
  Considerate: 88%  
  Substantial: 98%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Positive  
  Avg. Grade Level: 12.04  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
You have no way of validating whether the data is based on fact. By your logic, burning bushes can talk because someone has recorded this event as factual in a book. You're observing data that has been reported. You may observe, empirically, numbers that are given to you by authority, but it is physically impossible to empirically observe the tempuratures themselves.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 79%  
  Substantial: 72%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 12.14  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 97%  
  Learn More About Debra
If you have a brain you are capable of validating if data is based in fact. You can investigate if it stacks up with other measurements, both historic and contempory, you can check their methodology, you can perform the calculations, yourselves, etc, etc.
Now if you want to get all solipsistic and say that at some point any data is based on assumptions like "You can believe your senses, you're not in a Matrix style computer generated reality", but then the same is true of literally every action you have taken in your entire life and shows that your argument has entered the territory of nonsense hand-wringing that has no basis in scientific enquiry.
  Considerate: 59%  
  Substantial: 97%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 95%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 13.3  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
I don't know how you can confuse looking at a computer screen as empirical evidence of anything other than looking at a computer screen. There's no attempt at injecting the matrix in any of my argument here. I've proved your source as unreliable on multiple counts, and you conveniently ignore it.
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 82%  
  Substantial: 78%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 96%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.74  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 87%  
  Learn More About Debra
In my very last post I just listed things you can do to validate data which aren't simply looking at computer screen, so try responding to my argument rather than strawmanning.
Also if you remember you were meant to be trying to criticise my climate change assumptions. As far as I can see the only evidence I've ignored is that some people have provided videos which show they think stars look funny when you zoom in at them with commercial cameras, which as well as hardly being compelling is also irrelevant.
  Considerate: 89%  
  Substantial: 98%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 96%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 13.22  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 99%  
  Learn More About Debra
@AlwaysCorrect
"In my very last post I just listed things you can do to validate data which aren't simply looking at computer screen, so try responding to my argument rather than strawmanning."
And none of them bringing you any closer to observing or experiencing exactly the tempurature and humidity at London on September 14th 1906. I can walk outside and see, empirically, if it is raining outside my house. I have observed it raining outside. Then I can say matter of factly, that it is raining. Several accounts of a major flood has been recorded in history books. Is this reason to say the bible I infallible?
"As far as I can see the only evidence I've ignored is"
http://dev1.debateisland.com/discussion/comment/4229#Comment_4229
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 94%  
  Substantial: 71%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 91%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 9.86  
  Sources: 1  
  Relevant (Beta): 21%  
  Learn More About Debra
Here's some more.
http://dev1.debateisland.com/discussion/comment/6210/#Comment_6210
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 93%  
  Substantial: 14%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 90%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 9.6  
  Sources: 1  
  Relevant (Beta): 38%  
  Learn More About Debra
I don't need to observe or predict the temperature in the past, empirical measurements were taken at the time and validated currently as explained. Also to empirically test whether it was raining, you wouldn't physically have to be there, although that is one method. It's not a very good method to use as the sole use of empirical analysis though as it leaves you unable to offer any critical analysis of anything in history or anything that doesn't occur directly in front of you.
Also, why don't you hold to your own standards. You've often made statements about the past that you did not observe, sometimes based on nothing more than imagination.
  Considerate: 85%  
  Substantial: 98%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 12.66  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 99%  
  Learn More About Debra
Scientific method: noun; a method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about.
Wayne Dyer
  Considerate: 86%  
  Substantial: 47%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 100%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.88  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 50%  
  Learn More About Debra
  Considerate: 54%  
  Substantial: 80%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 96%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 9.02  
  Sources: 2  
  Relevant (Beta): 90%  
  Learn More About Debra
Logical fallacies are an error in reasoning because they are an error in formal logic, like a math error. Statements based on a fallacy are not valid arguments for that reason.
  Considerate: 83%  
  Substantial: 87%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 95%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.9  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
Simply put, if logical fallacies are lost on someone...then that person most likely has no business debating. A debate is supposed to be an opportunity for different people to edify one another. Because we're Human, we're likely to be biased and prejudice when it comes to ideology...debating is a method to break those biased ideas and to develop new ideas and new understandings. This however, cannot be done with illogical ideas or methods...using said methods actually serves to create misunderstandings and personally...that really grinds my gears.
"There's going to be a special place in Hell for people who spread lies through the veil of logical fallacies disguised as rational argument".
"Oh, you don't like my sarcasm? Well I don't much appreciate your stupid".
  Considerate: 88%  
  Substantial: 91%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 96%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 11.08  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 66%  
  Learn More About Debra
A conclusion based upon the premise of a logical fallacy is not a conclusion at all. It is an error. The conclusion itself may be correct for other reasons, but it cannot be shown the way it was shown using the fallacy.
Using fallacies in debates is truly a waste of everyone's time.
  Considerate: 86%  
  Substantial: 99%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 98%  
  Sentiment: Neutral  
  Avg. Grade Level: 8.72  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 100%  
  Learn More About Debra
Logical fallacies can look convoluted, but, just as logic itself, they are built out of simple components that are easy to understand.
For example, consider the "affirming a disjunct" fallacy. It may look somewhat complicated, but if you look at its formulation, then you will see that it has the same root as the "false dichotomy" fallacy and many other related fallacies. The root is misrepresentation of the space of possibilities. This is a very intuitively understandable mistake: the suggested list of possibilities does not match the actual list of possibilities. The logical chain is broken.
Take any chain, no matter how complicated. Consider every joint and break it down into simple elements. Break those elements into simpler elements. Eventually you will arrive at the skeleton of logic, consisting of simple A => B connections - and you can find the fundamental error in one or more of the connections, which will let you understand the nature of the fallacy.
---
Some fallacies can be hard to track by just looking at them and need a detailed investigation. Take this example:
"China has the largest population on Earth."
"Japan has the oldest population on Earth." (not sure if this one is true, but let us assume it is for the purposes of this example)
"Hence, Japan and China put together have the largest number of old people in the world."
This is obviously a fallacy. Suppose China had only 10 y/o people in it, and Japan had only 80 y/o people in it. Put together, they would still only have as many old people as Japan does, and that number is lower than for the India, for example. However, by just skimming through this logical chain in a large article, one might miss the fallacy, because they let their general idea of what China and Japan are like get in the way of the exact logic used. The conclusion may be correct; the basis behind it is not.
Fallacies can also be untackable when approached from the position of subjective opinion, rather than objective logic. For example:
"I can't enjoy drinking coffee. I tried two different brands and hated them both."
There are thousands brands of coffee around the world, so trying only two of them and disliking them obviously does not mean the person would dislike every single brand. However, we make statements like this routinely, based on emotions, so much, that even the brightest of us rarely see them as fallacious.
Even worse in politics, which is a notoriously emotional field.
"I think Trump is a pretty terrible president."
"No, he is not."
"Why not?"
"Because Hillary would be worse."
Again, this kind of "arguments" is used all the time by people trying to divert the attention of their political opponents from the inconvenient topics - but the fallacy is apparent, if we replace the actors with something more emotionally relatable:
"I think Hitler was a pretty terrible ruler."
"No, he was not."
"Why not?"
"Because Stalin was worse."
Structurally, these logical chains are exactly the same - however, you will see the same person immediately detecting the fallacy in the latter, while denying one in the former.
---
To summarize, fallacies can look convoluted and hidden, but they still remain fallacies. As far as employment of fallacies in order to demonstrate the hypocrisy and inconsistency of someone else goes, it is, indeed, as self-defeating method: it is impossible to prove one's fallacy by employing a fallacy, since employing a fallacy destroys the logical chain and makes the conclusion unfounded.
  Considerate: 74%  
  Substantial: 84%  
  Spelling & Grammar: 93%  
  Sentiment: Negative  
  Avg. Grade Level: 10.94  
  Sources: 0  
  Relevant (Beta): 37%  
  Learn More About Debra