Exposition 01

There is a fatal flaw in reductio ad ridiculum, the favorite weapon used by the likes of stewart, Colbert and the entire cast of Vitalis Nocturnorum Saturni Dies, if you’ll pardon my rather handsome attempt at displaying erudition by speaking in poorly translated Latin. This flaw, to which I previously referred with corpulent lucidity, being that one ridiculous outcome need not be necessitated by a belief to which one is in disagreement.

I shall illuminate this rather perplexing problem with a parable, my pretty pernicious plebeians. Supposing one objected to youthful instruction by the dandified by arguing that a fop is more likely to dandle the youthful than, say, the rugged, shaggy man both unbent and rare in shape, possessing such masculine features as the charming fellow sitting before you. Objections would be made, my delicious shavings of caramelized sugar, placing the foppish in scenarios of pure silliness — say, in a rusty van stalking a primary school, and commenting on how rust is poor for one’s complexion, something a fop would have foremost on his mind and therefore least likely to be in contact with. The flaw occurs not in the recognition, oh well-​reasoning persons of some importance, that such a visage is both silly and unlikely, but in rejecting its possibility outright on the grounds of its silliness in lieu of actual evidence.

This, my deep-​fried and obviously eloquent hush-​puppies, is the fatal flaw in reductio ad ridiculum — the straw man.

About Oxhorn I’m an author, songwriter and movie-​maker who lives in Seattle, WA. I earned my BA in history from the University of Washington and have been interested in arguments, reasoning, research, writing and history ever since. I’m best known for my animated comedy machinima movies and music which you can find at oxhorn​.com. Visit brandonMdennis​.com for more about me, and be sure to subscribe, follow me on Twitter and Facebook. Watch my weekly live show, Scotch & Smoke Rings, at 7:00 PM Pacific for more classiness.