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Curated by: Ontology Explained: Philosophy and AI (109 videos)
In this video, we break down the red herring fallacy — one of the most common (and most misused) fallacies in everyday arguments. We’ll look at what a red herring actually is, where the term comes from, how it shows up in modern debates, and why identifying it can get tricky in real-world conversations. What we cover: -The definition of a red herring -The 1807 William Cobbett origin story -Classic examples (including ad hominem & appeal to tradition) -Political examples using the Epstein files discussion -Why irrelevant details aren’t always fallacious -The tension between exegesis and steel-manning -How red herrings differ from straw men -Takeaway: A red herring fallacy occurs when irrelevant information is used to distract from — or covertly support — a conclusion. Sources: worldwidewords.org/articles/herring.htm youtube.com/watch?v=_nMXRp26kWM youtube.com/watch?v=NKFf2dUF2JU