Foolverism, a Subtle Fallacy in Reasoning

C S Lewis - author and philosopher and Christian

By the cryptozoology author Jonathan Whitcomb

Before defining the word I’ve just invented, foolverism, I quote from Wikipedia, for a definition of a similar word:

Bulverism is a fallacy of irrelevance. One accuses an argument of being wrong on the basis of the arguer’s identity or motive, but these are strictly speaking irrelevant to the argument’s validity or truth.

The word bulverism was coined by C. S. Lewis, in the mid-20th century, in response to a growing habit people were forming: avoiding discussion of an issue by ridiculing the one proposing it or trying to make that person appear unqualified or untrustworthy. Here’s one kind of bulverism, also taken from Wikipedia:

A mathematician argues: “2+2=4 because 2 is half of 4”.
A literature professor scoffs: “You only say that because you are a mathematician.”

I acknowledge my indebtedness to C. S. Lewis, who so often took the time to deeply think about important issues. Here is my definition of foolverism, which I think he would have appreciated:

To destroy confidence in an idea, some kind of authority finds an unrelated concept, one that is completely unbelievable to almost everyone, a secondary concept that seems to resemble the original idea but which has only the most superficial relationship to it. The authority mentions the unbelievable secondary concept while relating it to the original idea. That declaration will cause some people, at least, to see the original idea as tainted, at least, partly because of the apparent credibility of the authority.

Notice that foolverism resembles the straw man argument, but it does not involve replacing the original idea. It uses the position of an apparent authority to deride that idea by relating it to a ridiculous idea. Part of the difference is that foolverism involves only mentioning a secondary concept that is obviously ridiculous, without need of knocking it down; a straw man is usually constructed to be knocked down. Here’s another way of comparing them:

  • The straw man argument seeks to secretly replace the original idea with something else
  • Foolverism seeks to taint the original idea by openly comparing it with something else
  • Bulverism seeks to avoid the original idea by making its proponent look bad

Here’s a more colorful comparison between these three faulty ways of reasoning:

With a straw man argument, the first man on the stage is interrupted by a second man who pulls a curtain in front of the first man. The second man, with the stage to himself, pretends to represent the first man and then proceeds to fall on his face because he has tripped on his pants, which had fallen down to his shoes.

With foolverism, a man on the stage is joined by a better-dressed man who walks in front of him and negatively shakes his head. The second man drops a paper bag full of fresh dog droppings at the feet of the first man and then quickly exits the stage, leaving the first man to stand there with a bad smell coming from the stage.

With bulverism, a man who has just addressed the audience is joined by a second man who implores anyone in the audience to call for an ambulance so the first man can be taken to a mental hospital.

Notice that in all three of the above symbolic mini-stories the original character is made to look like a fool. I invented the name foolverism to resemble the word bulverism. In contrast to Lewis’s concept, mine involves a more subtle way to ridicule an idea, and it’s not just theoretical.

Foolverism in North Carolina News Reporting

For years, I’ve examined eyewitness accounts of apparent living pterosaurs in North Carolina, especially in and around the city of Raleigh. Almost all of those accounts were from those eyewitnesses who contacted me directly. By the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018, I was able to get the attention of some of the news media in that state.

On January 11, 2018, the Raleigh, North Carolina, newspaper The News and Observer published the article “Are there flying dinosaurs in NC? One woman says she’s seen them 3 times in Raleigh.” This is the second largest newspaper in the state, a standard newspaper, meaning it’s not a sensationalist publication. That makes it likely they would view a sensational-sounding idea with suspicion, at least, and such a newspaper is unlikely to treat the subject of extant pterosaurs in their own backyard impartially.

The News and Observer quoted Matt Cartmill, professor emeritus of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, and here’s part of what he said about the possibility that some pterosaurs live in that area of North Carolina: “I’d rank it as being slightly more probable than living unicorns in Raleigh and Durham. But only slightly.”

To persons who think clearly, I see that foolverism as less offensive than a common straw man argument or a bulverism, but it is far from the ideal way of handling the issue. How much better it is to ask the eyewitnesses further questions, more than what I had asked them!

I don’t mean to imply that none of the news professionals in North Carolina have questioned the woman who went public with what she had observed, but a professor of evolutionary anthropology is far from the ideal person to consult about unusual wildlife in North Carolina, animals that would appear to be cryptids. Those are best dealt with by those who specialize in cryptids: cryptozoologists.

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C S Lewis - author and philosopher and Christian

C. S. Lewis, not a cryptozoologist but one who valued clear thinking

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Bulverism and living pterosaurs

Truly it is sad when blog commenters reject everything from persons they disagree with, then label those with whom they disagree “liar.”

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Bulverism and Science

Don’t avoid an issue by putting down the person who brought up the subject; avoid falling into bulverism.

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Identifying Faulty Reasoning

Three common forms of faulty reasoning:

  • Overgeneralization
  • Illogical Conclusion
  • Personal Bias

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The life of C. S. Lewis

The living legacy

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Living pterosaurs in North Carolina

Look not to a biology professor at a university, if you should be one of the lucky ones who has seen an apparent living pterosaur in states like South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, or North Carolina (or any other state or country). Contact me to report the flying creature you encountered.

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Reasoning on live pterosaurs

Many species of pterosaurs have lived on this planet at some time in the past. What evidence is there that all of those species have become extinct? NONE!

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Pterosaur expedition in the year 2015

I was delighted to discover, earlier this week, the Youtube video “PNG Expedition 2015 Documentary (Milt Marcy).” I talked with Milt Marcy and Peter Beach, by phone, soon after they returned to the USA from their expedition on New Britain Island, Papua New Guinea, in 2015 . . .

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