Fallacies are forms of argumentation that are known to be invalid. A list of common fallacies is described at http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/rgass/fallacy3211.htm I wondered if there were any fallacies that the Scientology enterprise did not use. As far as I can tell, they make liberal use of all of them. So here is the list of common fallacies with examples taken from arguments that the Scientology enterprise makes in public, or to its clients: The list is too long for one post so I'll post only a few at a time. 1. FAULTY CAUSE: (post hoc ergo propter hoc) mistakes correlation or association for causation, by assuming that because one thing follows another it was caused by the other. example: An SP crossed Babbs' path yesterday and, sure enough, she was involved in an automobile accident later that same afternoon. explanation: Bad things happen randomly, not because of SPs. example: Tom Cruise has had great success in Hollywood after taking more Scientology auditing. explanation: Cruise has natural ability, Scientology had nothing to do with his success. 2. SWEEPING GENERALIZATION: (dicto simpliciter) assumes that what is true of the whole will also be true of the part, or that what is true in most instances will be true in all instances. example: Muffin must be rich because she is OT, and OTs are the richest members of Scientology. explanation: Mostly people who are rich can afford the high costs of OT, but Muffin wasn't rich, she went into deep debt to get to OT. example: David is a wog protester against Scientology and wogs are usually ignorant of Scientology, therefore I can ignore anything David says about it. explanation: Not all wogs are ignorant of Scientology abuses. David has done much research on how the Scientology enterprise hurts people. note: "wog" is a racist term used by the Scientology enterprise to instill hatred of people who are not clients of Scientology. 3. HASTY GENERALIZATION: bases an inference on too small a sample, or on an unrepresentative sample. Often, a single example or instance is used as the basis for a broader generalization. example: All of those wogs are really rude. I asked a few to come in for a personality test, and they told me to get lost. explanation: Some wogs were rude does not mean they all are. example: Clears are actually powerful, important people. My auditor is clear and he runs a successful business! explanation: One clear running a successful business does not mean they all do. 4. FAULTY ANALOGY: (can be literal or figurative) assumes that because two things, events, or situations are alike in some known respects, that they are alike in other unknown respects. example: What's the big deal about utterly ruining a few Scientology critics in order to help Scientology succeed? After all, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. explanation: Making an omelet is figuratively good, and spreading Scientology is also good. Breaking a few eggs is figuratively bad, and ruining people is bad. But just because you have to do something bad to make an omelet does not mean that you have to do something bad to spread Scientology. example: Punishing Scientology for fraud is like killing Jews in concentration camps. explanation: Punishing Scientology is bad and killing Jews is bad, but just because Jews were innocent victims does not mean that Scientology is one too.
5. APPEAL TO IGNORANCE: (argumentum ad ignorantiam) attempts to use an opponent's inability to disprove a conclusion as proof of the validity of the conclusion, i.e. "You can't prove I'm wrong, so I must be right." example: We can safely conclude that OTs have special powers, because thus far no one has been able to prove that they don't. explanation: No OT will allow themselves to be tested for special powers, and so nobody has been able to prove that they have none. This does not mean that they actually do have powers. example: Scientology works for curing cancer; not a single homo novis with cancer has ever complained. explanation: No homo novis sick with cancer has complained because they either died or they were kicked out and were no longer homo novis when they complained. This does not prove that Scientology can cure cancer. 6. BIFURCATION: (either-or, black or white, all or nothing fallacy) assumes that two categories are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, that is, something is either a member of one or the other, but not both or some third category. example: Either you believe everything Hubbard wrote is true, or you are against Scientology. explanation: You can believe that some things Hubbard wrote were true and still be against Scientology, or you can believe that some things Hubbard wrote were false and not be against Scientology. example: If you criticize Scientology you are a criminal. explanation: You can criticize Scientology and not be a criminal or you can be a criminal and not criticize Scientology. 7. FALSE DILEMMA: (a form of bifurcation) implies that one of two outcomes is inevitable, and both have negative consequences. example: Either disconnect from your child or lose your eternity. explanation: You can quit being a victim of the Scientology enterprise and still practice Scientology as an independent or in the freezone while not disconnecting. example: You can either go into debt to pay for Scientology or you can join the sea-org. explanation: You don't have to go into debt or join the sea-org. You can just blow. 8. FAULTY SIGN: (also includes argument from circumstance) wrongly assumes that one event or phenomenon is a reliable indicator or predictor of another event or phenomenon. example: The Scientology enterprise is buying a lot of new buildings, therefore Scientology is a growing religion. explanation: Having many empty buildings does not prove that the number of clients of Scientology is increasing. example: Hubbard's books are on the bestseller list, therefore Hubbard is a highly popular author. explanation: Getting on the bestseller list means selling a large enough number of books at a few secretly chosen bookstores. The Scientology enterprise had a private investigator find out which bookstores, and then sent in its agents to buy its own books at those stores. This does not make Hubbard a popular author.
9. DAMNING THE SOURCE: (ad hominem, sometimes called the genetic fallacy) attempts to refute an argument by indicting the source of the argument, rather than the substance of the argument itself. example: There is no reason to listen to the arguments of those SPs who oppose Scientology, for they are the arguments of insane people! explanation: The arguments stand or fall based on their own merit, not on the merit of the people making them. example: Don't believe anything you read on the internet. explanation: Whether something is stated on the internet or not has nothing to do with its veracity. 10. TU QUOQUE: (look who's talking or two wrongs make a right) pointing to a similar wrong or error committed by another. example: Some Catholic priests abused children therefore it's OK for the Scientology enterprise to abuse its clients. explanation: Catholic priests hurting children does not justify the Scientology enterprise hurting its members. example: The pope used to grant wealthy Catholics pardons for heinous sins if they made large donations, so it's alright for the Scientology enterprise to protect rapists and child molestors if they are paying large sums to Scientology. explanation: Paying money to a third party does not justify protecting a criminal from prosecution. 11. EQUIVOCATION: allows a key word or term in an argument to shift its meaning during the course of the argument. The result is that the conclusion of the argument is not concerned with the same thing as the premise(s). example: Ethical people deserve praise and respect. Homo novis are the most ethical people on the planet, therefore homo novis deserve praise and respect. explanation: The word "ethical" in Scientology means someone who makes money for the enterprise, not someone who acts according to accepted moral standards. So although ethical people deserve praise it does not mean that homo novis do. example: Organizations that help disaster victims are charities. The Scientology volunteer ministers help disaster victims, therefore Scientology volunterr ministers are a charity. explanation: "help" means to offer free food, shelter, clothing, or medical assistance. Scientology volunteer ministers offer none of these, so it is wrong to conclude that they are a charity. 12. BEGGING THE QUESTION: (petitio principii) entails making an argument, the conclusion of which is based on an unstated or unproven assumption. In question form, this fallacy is known as a COMPLEX QUESTION. example: What is true for you is true. I have never personally observed Miscavige beating his staff, therefore he never did. explanation: The assumption that what is true for you is true does not mean that you cannot know something based on witness reports. example: "What are your crimes?" as asked by a Scientology operative of a protestor. explanation: The false assumption being made is that anyone critical of Scientology is a criminal.
13. TAUTOLOGY: (a sub-category of circular argument) defining terms or qualifying an argument in such a way that it would be impossible to disprove the argument. Often, the rationale for the argument is merely a restatement of the conclusion in different words. example: Hubbard is never wrong. We know this because he told us so. explanation: This is assuming that Hubbard was never wrong to prove he was never wrong. example: You are evil because you speak against Scientology. If you disagree with me on this, it will only further prove what an evil SP you are. explanation: You have to assume that anyone speaking against Scientology is evil to prove that SPs are evil. 14. APPEAL TO AUTHORITY: (ipse dixit also called ad verecundiam sometimes) attempts to justify an argument by citing a highly admired or well-known (but not necessarily qualified) figure who supports the conclusion being offered. example: If Tom Cruise says that psychiatry is bad, then it must be. explanation: Tom Cruise is not an expert on psychiatry, so his opinion is not justification for believing that psychiatry is bad. example: David Miscavige, the leader of Scientology, said that children are bad for the Sea Org, so sea org women must have abortions. explanation: It may be possible to accomodate sea org members having children, and still have a successful sea org. Just because Miscavige said it's impossible doesn't mean that it is. 15. APPEAL TO TRADITION: (don't rock the boat or ad verecundiam) based on the principle of "letting sleeping dogs lie". We should continue to do things as they have been done in the past. We shouldn't challenge time-honored customs or traditions. example: Of course we have to salute Hubbard with a hip-hip-hooray. It's the way we always conduct our meetings. explanation: Saluting Hubbard is not necessary just because it was done before. example: Homo novis children have always joined the sea org at a young age, so my children should join too. explanation: Just because homo novis traditionally put their children into the sea org, does not mean that your children should go there. 16. APPEAL TO THE CROWD: (ad populum or playing to the gallery) refers to popular opinion or majority sentiment in order to provide support for a claim. Often the "common man" or "common sense" provides the basis for the claim. example: All sea org workers work 15 hours a day, so you should too. explanation: Just beacause others agree to slave labor does not make it right. example: All clients of the Scientology enterprise give money to the IAS so you must too. explanation: You may not be able to affor the fees, so just because others can does not mean you must.
17. STRAW MAN: stating an opponent's argument in an extreme or exaggerated form, or attacking a weaker, irrelevant portion of an opponent's argument. example: The SP said that Scientology murdered Lisa Mcphereson. How could Miscavige have done so, he never went near her? explanation: Miscavige gave the orders that led to McPhereson's death, he never had to get his hands dirty himself. example: What person in their right mind could truly criticize Scientology. Who can be against an end to war, poverty, hunger, and against human rights and spiritual enlightenment? explanation: Criticizing Scientology does not mean being for war, poverty, hunger, or against human rights and spiritual enlightenment. 18. SLIPPERY SLOPE: (sometimes called a snowball argument or domino theory) suggests that if one step or action is taken it will invariably lead to similar steps or actions, the end results of which are negative or undesirable. A slippery slope always assume a chain reaction of cause-effect events which result in some eventual dire outcome. example: If you don't join the sea org, it means the world will end. explanation: The world will not be saved based on one person joining the sea org. example: If you quit giving money to the Scientology enterprise, then Scientology will stop expanding and you will be responsible. explanation: If Scientology is something good, it will attract people whether or not you give them your money. 19. APPEALING TO EXTREMES: A fallacy very similar to slippery slope, which involves taking an argumentative claim or assertion to its extreme, even though the arguer does not advocate the extreme interpretation. The difference between the two fallacies is that appealing to extremes does not necessarily involve a sequence of causal connections. example: If you don't join Scientology you might as well shoot yourself in the head. explanation: Being dead is not better than being a wog. example: If you quit Scientology you'll die. explanation: Scientology makes quitting as unpleasant as possible, using disconnection and other threats, but you won't die because you quit. 20. HYPOTHESIS CONTRARY TO FACT: This fallacy consists of offering a poorly supported claim about what might have happened in the past or future if circumstances or conditions were other than they actually were or are. The fallacy also involves treating hypothetical situations as if they were fact. example: If you would only try Scientology, I'm sure you would liked it. explanation: You may or may not like it if you try it. (In fact some people who tried it did not like it.) example: If Scientology doesn't work for you, it's your fault because you did it wrong. explanation: If Scientology doesn't work it could also be that you did it precisely as prescribed but that Scientology failed.
21. NON SEQUITAR: (literally means "does not follow") in a general sense any argument which fails to establish a connection between the premises and the conclusion may be called a non-sequitar. In practice, however, the label non-sequitar tends to be reserved for arguments in which irrelevant reasons are offered to support a claim. example: I got a cold, so I must be a victim of body thetans. explanation: Getting a cold has everything to do with the cold virus and nothing to do with Scientology. example: Scientology is a religion because it has IRS tax exemption. explanation: Scientology has IRS tax exemption because it bullied IRS employees into submission, not because Scientology is a religion. 22. RED HERRING: attempting to hide a weakness in an argument by drawing attention away from the real issue. A red herring fallacy is thus a diversionary tactic or an attempt to confuse or fog the issue being debated. The name of the fallacy comes from the days of fox hunting, when a herring was dragged across the trail of a fox in order to throw the dogs off the scent. example: Accused by victims of being beaten by Miscavige, he replies that the victims were criminals. explanation: Whether or not Miscavige's victims committed any crimes has nothing to do with whether or not he beat them. example: A news article reports that a famous homo novis who decided to quit Scientology had his cell phone records stolen. In the article comments, the Scientology enterprise makes fun of Canadians. (This actually happened, see http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/04/scientology_cri.php#comments) explanation: making fun of Canada has nothing to do with the Scientology enterprise stealing phone records. 23. INCONSISTENCY: advancing an argument that is self-contradictory, or that is based on mutually inconsistent premises. Example: A homo novis says, "Hey, you can’t trust those other religions. They’ll say anything to get you to join them." explanation: If religions will say anything to get you to join them then so will the Scientology enterprise, since it portrays itself as a religion. Example: Scientology only ever helps people, so anyone against it must be utterly destroyed. explanation: People against Scientology are not being helped, contradicting that Scientology only ever helps people.
Anonymous delivers a short version COMMON FALLACIES in Homo Novis reasoning, by example 1. FAULTY CAUSE: An SP crossed Babbs' path yesterday and, sure enough, she was involved in an automobile accident later that same afternoon. explanation: Bad things happen randomly, not because of SPs. 2'd example: Tom Cruise has had great success in Holywood after taking more Scientology auditing. 2. SWEEPING GENERALIZATION: Muffin must be rich because she is OT, and OTs are the richest members of Scientology. explanation: Mostly people who are rich can afford the high costs of OT, but Muffin wasn't rich, she went into deep debt to get to OT. 2'd example: David is a wog protester against Scientology and wogs are usually ignorant of Scientology, therefore I can ignore anything David says about it. 3. HASTY GENERALIZATION: Clears are actually poweful, important people. My auditor is clear and he runs a successful business! explanation: One clear running a successful business does not mean they all do. 2'd example: All of those wogs are really rude. I asked a few to come in for a personality test, and they told me to get lost. 4. FAULTY ANALOGY: Punishing Scientology for fraud is like killing Jews in concentration camps. explanation: Punishing Scientology is bad and killing Jews is bad, but just because Jews were innocent victims does not mean that Scientology is one too. 2'd example: What's the big deal about utterly ruining a few Scientology critics in order to help Scientology succeed? After all, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. 5. APPEAL TO IGNORANCE: We can safely conclude that OTs have special powers, because thus far no one has been able to prove that they don't. explanation: No OT will allow themselves to be tested for special powers, and so nobody has been able to prove that they have none. This does not mean that they actually do have powers. 2'd example: Scientology works for curing cancer; not a single homo novis with cancer has ever complained. 6. BIFURCATION: Either you believe everything Hubbard wrote is true, or you are against Scientology. explanation: You can believe that some things Hubbard wrote were true and still be against Scientology, or you can believe that some things Hubbard wrote were false and not be against Scientology. 2'd example: If you criticize Scientology you are a criminal. 7. FALSE DILEMMA: Either disconnect from your child or lose your eternity. explanation: You can quit being a victim of the Scientology enterprise and still practice Scientology as an independant or in the freezone while not disconnecting. 2'd example: You can either go into debt to pay for Scientology or you can join the sea-org. 8. FAULTY SIGN: The Scientology enterprise is buying a lot of new buildings, therefore Scientology is a growing religion. explanation: Having many empty buildings does not prove that the number of clients of Scientology is increasing. 2'd example: Hubbard's books are on the bestseller list, therefore Hubbard is a highly popular author. 9. DAMNING THE SOURCE: There is no reason to listen to the arguments of those SPs who oppose Scientology, for they are the arguments of insane people! explanation: The arguments stand or fall based on their own merit, not on the merit of the people making them. 2'd example: Don't believe anything you read on the internet. 10. TU QUOQUE: Some Catholic priests abused children therefore it's OK for the Scientology enterprise to abuse its clients. explanation: Catholic priests hurting children does not justify the Scientology enterprise hurting its members. 2'd example: The pope used to grant wealthy Catholics pardons for heinous sins if they made large donations, so it's alright for the Scientology enterprise to protect rapists and child molestors if they are paying large sums to Scientology. 11. EQUIVOCATION: Ethical people deserve praise and respect. Homo novis are the most ethical people on earth, so homo novis deserve praise and respect. explanation: The word "ethical" in Scientology means someone who makes money for the enterprise, not someone who acts according to accepted moral standards. So although ethical people deserve praise it does not mean that homo novis do. 2'd example: Organizations that help disaster victims are charities. The Scientology volunteer ministers help disaster victims, therefore Scientology volunteer ministers are a charity. 12. BEGGING THE QUESTION: What is true for you is true. I have never personally observed Miscavige beating his staff, therefore he never did. explanation: The assumption that what is true for you is true does not mean that you cannot know something based on witness reports. 2'd example: "What are your crimes?" as asked by a Scientology operative of a protestor. 13. TAUTOLOGY: Hubbard is never wrong. We know this because he told us so. explanation: This is assuming that Hubbard was never wrong to prove he was never wrong. 2'd example: You are evil because you speak against Scientology. If you disagree with me on this, it will only further prove what an evil SP you are. 14. APPEAL TO AUTHORITY: If Tom Cruise says that psychiatry is bad, then it must be. explanation: Tom Cruise is not an expert on psychiatry, so his opinion is not justification for believing that psychiatry is bad. 2'd example: David Miscavige, the leader of Scientology, said that children are bad for the Sea Org, so sea org women must have abortions. 15. APPEAL TO TRADITION: Of course we have to salute Hubbard with a hip-hip-hooray. It's the way we always conduct our meetings. explanation: Saluting Hubbard is not necessary just because it was done before. 2'd example: Homo novis children have always joined the sea org at a young age, so my children should join too. 16. APPEAL TO THE CROWD: All sea org workers work 15 hours a day, so you should too. explanation: Just beacause others agree to slave labor does not make it right. 2'd example: All clients of the Scientology enterprise give money to the IAS so you must too. 17. STRAW MAN: The SP said that Scientology murdered Lisa Mcphereson. How could Miscavige have done so, he never went near her? explanation: Miscavige gave the orders that led to McPhereson's death, he never had to get his hands dirty himself. 2'd example: What person in their right mind could truly criticize Scientology. Who can be against an end to war, poverty, hunger, and against human rights and spiritual enlightenment? 18. SLIPPERY SLOPE: If you don't join the sea org, it means the world will end. explanation: The world will not be saved based on one person joining the sea org. 2'd example: If you quit giving money to the Scientology enterprise, then Scientology will stop expanding and you will be responsible. 19. APPEALING TO EXTREMES: If you don't join Scientology you might as well shoot yourself in the head. explanation: Being dead is not better than being a wog. 2'd example: If you quit Scientology you'll die. 20. HYPOTHESIS CONTRARY TO FACT: If you would only try Scientology, I'm sure you would liked it. explanation: You may or may not like it if you try it. (In fact some people who tried it did not like it.) 2'd example: If Scientology doesn't work for you, it's your fault because you did it wrong. 21. NON SEQUITAR: I got a cold, so I must be a victim of body thetans. explanation: Getting a cold has everything to do with the cold virus and nothing to do with Scientology. 2'd example: Scientology is a religion because it has IRS tax exemption. 22. RED HERRING: Accused by victims of being beaten by Miscavige, he replies that the victims were criminals. explanation: Whether or not Miscavige's victims committed any crimes has nothing to do with whether or not he beat them. 2'd example: A news article reports that a famous homo novis who decided to quit Scientology had his cell phone records stolen. In the article comments, the Scientology enterprise makes fun of Canadians. (This actually happened, see http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/04/scientology_cri.php#comments) 23. INCONSISTENCY: A homo novis says, "Hey, you can’t trust those other religions. They’ll say anything to get you to join them." explanation: If religions will say anything to get you to join them then so will the Scientology enterprise, since it portrays itself as a religion. 2'd example: Scientology only ever helps people, so anyone against it must be utterly destroyed.
Lying: Saying anything just to get your way. Intimidation: Scaring a person into agreeing with you. Example: You've just done the personality test and you tell them that you don't agree with it. Per policy, they are supposed to say, "THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS." Oftentimes done in an authoritative angry tone because WOGs are low on the tone scale and this is how it is done.
Not sure the technical term but this is a popular line among indies: People who criticize the "tech" just don't understand it. If they did, they wouldn't be critical of it.
Scientologists may not be using it as a racist term but they have adopted an existing one and use it as a term of general derision. If I understand correctly, it has British colonial origins, with middle- and far-eastern locals being referred to sarcastically as "worthy oriental gentlemen". Hubbard re-defining a word does not remove its original meaning.
And the unspoken part is if they did understand it not only would they not be critical of it; they would immediatly run to the nearest Org or Freezone auditor and demand the precious tech and become Scientologists.
The CoS tech dictionary says the term is derived from Worthy Oriental Gentlemen. IOW, he knew, and CoS members know, that it is a racist term. from wiki:
Yes indeed, "wog" is a British English racist condescending term. I grew up in the UK and heard it always in that context.
You are right though, that the Scientology enterprise uses lies effectively and often to control its victims, as per Hubbard's famous quote about lying. However for anyone interested in the technicalities of formal logic: A statement is a sentence which can only be either true or false. An argument is a sequence of sentences consisting of some sentences labelled as premises and a sentence labelled as conclusion. An argument is consistent if whenever the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. An argument is inconsistent if it is possible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false. A fallacy is a form of argument that is inconsistent. Lying is making a false statement, so it is technically not an argument, and so not a fallacy. Similarly, intimidation is also not a form of argument, and so not a fallacy, but it certainly is a very direct way of control, just short of actual physical violence.
Sorry if it has been added, I didn't find it when I searched, but the BIGGEST fallacy used by every Scn: Pragmatic Fallacy - The pragmatic fallacy is committed when one argues that something is true because it works and where 'works' means something like "I'm satisfied with it," "I feel better," "I find it beneficial, meaningful, or significant," or "It explains things for me." Yeap.
John Travolta used that quite well in an interview. He was asked about Scientology's bad image and especially about "Operation Snow White". He replied that he didn't know about any of that stuff and that he wasn't interested in finding out. He said that he just knew what Scientology has done for him and that was good enough for him. I don't want to knock the guy too much so I'll just say that I said pretty much the same things when I was in the cult.
Typical "Ostrich tech" - head in the sand and won't hear you. Thing is, an ostrich with head in sand can get its butt kicked by just about anyone. LULZ
Yes, anything outside the cult has no validity due to Hubbard being sole "Source" of everything valid.
Personally, I think its very likely he meant it in the Maritime sense. Roughly, a 'wog' (and they're called that, not 'pollywog' in the vernacular) is Raw Meat. Someone uninitiated in the "mysteries" of old sailors' lore. I'm not sure what associations the British racist usage of 'wog' has, but a Wog at sea is: ignorant, clumsy, naive, dangerous (due to the above). Wogs are the natural prey of sea monsters, and unscrupulous sailors. Everyone starts out as a Wog; and they stay that way until they've "gone over the edge of the world". Crossing the equator at sea (or arctic/antarctic circle) while enduring ritual hazing from more experienced sea-hands is the usual way of de-Wogging yourself. A Wog is a piece of shit. Really, no better than the "darkies", but among sailors (as with Scientology) its a curable and not a terminal condition. I still believe L Ron was a wog. Probably until the day he died. If he never submitted to the horrors and buggeries of equator-crossing, right proper, he's a wog in my book.
I think you can find examples of these fallacies in the thread "Toronto vs SciTroll". Too bad it is all lost on the OSA bot. Yeah I don't know for sure if it's OSA but it is just my hunch. Most public Scientologists don't bother with this stuff.
