Logical Fallacies – Sleight of Mouth -Metamodel

(c) Richard Bolstad 2022

Richard speaks at NLP Global Conference

Logical Fallacies

The metamodel is not the only set of tools we have in NLP for unpacking delusional and unhelpful thinking. Our rational thinking patterns are often distorted by logical fallacies such as the following, and even recognising these false patterns helps us stay sane. Here I have re-categorised these logical fallacies as “Sleight of Mouth” patterns, using a reframing model from Robert Dilts (see below for a version of his original list), and I have offered suggested metamodel questions for each.

Robert Dilts explained the origin of this list of patterns thus: “In order to make a teaching point during a seminar, Bandler, who is renowned for his command of language, established a humorous but “paranoid” belief system, and challenged the group to persuade him to change it. Despite their best efforts, the group members were unable to make the slightest progress in influencing the seemingly impenetrable belief system Bandler had established (a system based upon what I was later to label “thought viruses”). It was in listening to the various verbal reframings that Bandler created spontaneously that I was able to recognise some of the structures he was using. Even though Bandler was applying these patterns “negatively” to make his point, I realised that these were the same structures used by people like Lincoln, Gandhi, Jesus, and others, to promote positive and powerful social change.” (Dilts, 1999, p x)

Apply to self

Tu quoque: “You say it’s wrong to insult people, but what about the time you insulted me?”
Is the only way to decide whether it is wrong to look at my behaviour?
Are you saying that if I behaved the way I recommend, it would make my claim correct?
Circular logic fallacy: “The Bible, being God’s word, says Jesus is lord, so he is.”
So X leads to Y leads to Z. What if they are all false?

Meta-frame

Ad hominem fallacy: “You just think that because you are a shill for Monsanto.”
Is it possible to think that without having heard of Monsanto?

Model of the World

Appeal to authority fallacy: Zach Bush is a medical doctor and he says vaccines don’t work.”
Does being a medical doctor mean that what you say is always correct?
Guilt by association fallacy: “Hitler believed in gun control so it’s wrong.”
Has there ever been a time Hitler did something and it was actually OK?
If Hitler liked dogs does that prove liking dogs is wrong?

Redefine

Affirming the consequent: “If men were natural rulers they’d be in charge. They are, so it’s natural.”
Is men being natural rulers the only cause that could lead to men being in charge?
Non sequitur fallacy: “I ate ice-cream then caught a cold, so ice-creams cause colds.”
Does everyone who eats ice-cream always catch a cold?
Post hoc ergo propter hoc: “I thought of my friend and then she phoned, so I made her phone me.”
Is everything that happens after something caused by that previous thing?
Correlation fallacy: “We see rising vaccination and rising autism rates. Vaccines cause autism.”
In what other way could vaccination rise and autism also rise?
Is there never a time when two things change at the same time but are unrelated?

Change Frame Size / Generalization

Reductio ad absurdum fallacy: “If evolution is true then frogs can turn into princes.”
How specifically does evolution cause frogs to turn into princes?
Slippery slope fallacy: “If we legalise gay marriage we’ll end up legalising bestiality.”
How specifically does gay marriage cause us to legalise bestiality?
Composition/Division; “If it works in New York, it will work anywhere in America.”
How specifically do you know that what works in New York works anywhere in America?
Hasty generalization fallacy: “X is a leftist and supports climate action, so climate action is leftist.”
Has there ever been someone who is a leftist and doesn’t support climate change?
Straw man fallacy: “People can lie while looking left or right, so the NLP eye movements are fake.”
How does the NLP eye movement idea mean that all lying involves looking in one direction?

Counterexample

Inflation of conflict fallacy: “Since some virologists oppose masks, it’s not certain they work.”
So if there is a single exception does it mean that the general pattern doesn’t exist?
So if one scientist believes in fairies does it mean that their existence is equally possible?
Red herring fallacy: “We never know all geology facts so we never can be sure of climate change.”
How does not knowing all geology facts mean that we can’t know this specific fact?

Reality Strategy

Burden of Proof: “Well I say there’ve been many deaths from vaccination. Prove I’m wrong.”
If I make an absurd claim, for example that fairies exist, do you have to prove it wrong?
Argument from ignorance fallacy: “We can’t prove that extra-terrestrials don’t exist, so they do.”
If we can’t prove something false, is it always true?

Hierarchy of Criteria / Another Outcome / Intent

Appeal to emotion fallacy: “No-one can tell me what is true for my own child, who I love!”
I get that you feel strongly, but how is that helping us identify what is logically right?
Appeal to nature fallacy: “GMOs are unnatural so unsafe, herbal remedies are natural so safe.”
I get that natural is important to you, but how is it better in this specific situation?
Appeal to popularity, tradition etc.: “It’s Japan’s tradition to hunt whales, so it’s OK.”
I get that tradition is important to you, but how is it better in this specific situation?
Middle Ground: “OK, maybe vaccines don’t cause all autism; let’s agree they cause some.”
I get that agreement is important to you, but how does it help us find what is actually true?
Fallacy fallacy: “You used a logical fallacy, so your conclusion cannot be true.”
I get that my using logical fallacies is important to you, but how does it affect whether this is true?

Consequences

Fallacy of the false dilemma: “Since the Bible is true, then evolution is false. It’s either-or.”
In what way are both things true? Has anyone ever thought that both are true?
No true Scotsman fallacy: “No true Christian supports evolution so X is not a Christian.”
Has there ever been a Christian who supported it/ Who defines a true Christian in this case?
Gambler’s fallacy: “It hasn’t worked the last 2 times, so third time lucky!”
How does the future know what you did before? How does what happened last time affect this one?
Ad hoc fallacy: “I would show you my psychic powers but your scepticism disrupts them.”
How specifically does what you expect affect the result in this case?

Chunk up

Denying the antecedent: “Global warming causes heat. It’s not hot now so there’s no warming.”
So how does one event now mean the general trend is not happening?
Sharpshooter fallacy: “Measles outbreaks happen despite vaccination so vaccines don’t work.”
So how does one small event mean that the general effect disappears?

Metaphor

Stacking the deck / 10 Leaky Buckets: “There are stories of vaccine failure, stories of autism, and stories of pharmacological corruption. Something must be wrong.”
How do several incorrect anecdotes add up to researched evidence that is correct?

Presupposition (A Milton Model Pattern)

Loaded question: Do you still blame me for everything you’re upset about?”
How do you know that I blame you for things you’re upset about?
Question begging fallacy: “The Bible says God exists, and it is true, so God exists.”
How do you know that the Bible is true?. What if they are both false?

Ambiguity (A Milton Model Pattern)

Ambiguity: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
Sexual relations how specifically? Which sexual relations specifically?

  • Dilts, R., Sleight of Mouth, Meta Publications, Capitola, California, 1999
  • Fallacy Man, Logical Fallacies, 2022 https://thelogicofscience.com/2015/01/27/the-rules-of-logic-part-3-logical-fallacies/

Cognitive Biases

Cognitive Biases are an inevitable result of using a brain evolved for survival, not for rationality. Know when to utilize them and when to detect and monitor them!