Table 2 Logical Fallacies in Strategies to Manufacture Doubt

2

Gain Support from Reputable Individuals

Appeal to authority (ad vercundiam): saying that because an “authority” believes something, it must be true

3

Misrepresent Data

Texas Sharpshooter: utilizing a subset of evidence that supports a theory but ignoring the full picture

9

Blame Other Causes

Questionable Cause (cum hoc ergo propter hoc): confusing correlation with causation

11

Define How to Measure Outcome/Exposure

Definist Fallacy: redefine a term to make a position easier to argue

13

Pose as a Defender of Health or Truth

Righteousness Fallacy: using evidence of good intentions to support other claims

22

Attack Opponents

Ad hominem: by attacking the arguer instead of the argument, the argument can be dismissed

23

Appeal to Emotion

Appealing to emotion: manipulating an emotional response in place of a valid, factual, compelling argument

25

Make Straw Man Arguments

Strawman argument: Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack

26

Abuse Credentials

Use of false authority: using an expert with dubious or unrelated credentials to promote the industry’s position

28

Claim Slippery Slope

Slippery Slope: avoiding the main argument by using extreme hypotheticals as distractions