Hey what’s up Thinkers! Kathy Gibbens here…
Let’s start off with a quick review of a fallacy we covered earlier this season, the Fallacy of Ambiguity. The Fallacy of Ambiguity happens when someone uses unclear, vague words that may have a double meaning in an argument or a statement so that it isn’t totally clear what they mean. It can also happen when someone uses universal language that applies to everyone and therefore they avoid being specific enough to make a good argument. In this instance, they stay vague enough to be right and then take credit, but not be blamed if they’re wrong.
The question to ask if someone is being vague or ambiguous is simple: “What do you mean by that?”
If you want to review or hear more about this fallacy, go back & check out Episode 97.
And a big thank you to this show’s sponsors, Classical Conversations. This is the homeschool program we’ve been using for 11 years now, and it’s where I first learned about the Logical Fallacies! What we love is the emphasis on teaching students HOW to think, versus just focusing on WHAT to think. We love the community aspect & have met some of our best friends through CC! You can get two free downloadable e-books when you fill out the form at classicalconversations.com/gibbens that will give you more info about homeschooling, and about what on earth a classical education even is.
Alright, let’s dive into today’s topic, which isn’t really a fallacy, but I think it’s super interesting because it’s designed to STOP you from thinking more deeply about something! It’s called a Thought-Terminating Cliche. A Thought Terminating Cliche is a word or phrase designed to end a conversation or to stop you from thinking further about a particular topic.
Here’s a simple example: Keith says, "I think we need to spend less time on our phones & video games and find some stuff to do outside." To which his brother Aaron replies, "Oh, come on. Everyone is always on their phones these days. It's just how things are. In this example, Aaron uses the thought-terminating cliché "it's just how things are" to dismiss Keith's suggestion of reducing screen time and finding something else to do. By implying that excessive phone usage is the norm and inevitable, Aaron tries to avoid further discussion about finding a healthier balance.
Here are some examples of thought-terminating clichés:
1. "It is what it is."
2. "That's just the way things are."
3. "Don't rock the boat."
4. “Alls well that ends well.”
5. “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
6. “Just sayin’.”
7. "You're either with us or against us."
8. "It's just a conspiracy theory."
9. "You're just being too sensitive."
10. "It's just common sense."
11. "Why question it? Just accept it."
12. "That's not how things work in the real world."
Can you see how these phrases are meant to end a conversation?
The problem behind Thought-Terminating Cliches is that they do exactly what the name says - they STOP THOUGHT! These phrases are often used to discourage critical thinking, suppress dissent or disagreement, or to keep someone from engaging in deeper analysis or discussion. They’re basically mental shortcuts that offer a sense of finality or closure to a conversation or debate, without addressing the underlying issues or considering alternative perspectives. To sum it up, they’re avoidance tactics meant to avoid getting to the real heart of the argument. And as you know, if someone is avoiding the heart of the argument, it’s impossible to think well about it, so your chances of winding up at the truth are very small.
Another example that’s been used the last few years is, “Trust the science” or “the science is always changing”. And this could be applied to several different scenarios like climate change and vaccinations, but let’s get controversial and use vaccinations, lol. Amy says "I think we should reconsider getting all these Covid boosters…it seems like more & more doctors & scientists are saying they may not be so good for us." To which her husband replies, "Oh, come on. We need to trust the science and just do what’s recommended." In this example, Amy’s husband uses the thought-terminating cliché "trust the science" to dismiss her argument and avoid engaging in a deeper discussion about the safety of the booster shots. He’s essentially shutting down further exploration of the topic and discrediting the opinion of the doctors who are bringing new evidence to light.
Question to ask yourself when someone uses a Thought-Terminating Cliche is this: “Did they just use that phrase to avoid the actual argument?” *repeat*
If you’re looking for an easy way to review the fallacies, you may want to get my ebook! Yep, I have a printable ebook that lists all the fallacies I’ve covered in this podcast. It gives the name & definition of the fallacy, a simple example, the question to ask yourself, and it includes a link to the episode so you can listen to it easily if you want to learn more. To get the Logical Fallacies ebook, just click the link in the show notes! Alright, that’s it for today…
Remember: When you learn HOW to think, you will no longer fall prey to those who are trying to tell you what THEY want you to think and it all starts with asking one simple question: “Is that really true?”
