Logical Errors

Logical Dodges

Red Herring

The red herring, or irrelevant issue, involves introducing a thesis that has nothing to do with the conclusion in question and then arguing that thesis. The term comes from a technique used by escaping prisoners. They used to toss a spoiled, or "red," herring on the path behind them to interfere with the bloodhounds' delicate sense of smell. For example, "The government should not interfere with cigarette advertising, nor should it discourage cigarette sales. Cigarette smoking is not as harmful to health as many people say. Besides, the tobacco industry is extremely important to the economy. It provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of people." The speaker has tried to substitute an argument unrelated to the health argument, namely the issue of economics, probably in the hope that by substantiating that thesis, he or she can then return to the original conclusion and get the hearer to accept it without noticing the logical detour.

Parent Topics:

Map of Logical Errors