Failing Occam's Razor - FT#68

Failing Occam's Razor - FT#68

Author: Jim & Mark February 9, 2021 Duration: 1:07:49

In the sixty-eighth episode we explore Failing Occam's Razor, starting out with Trump not understanding why he didn't get more mail in ballots and Lou Dobbs wondering why there's no proof of election fraud.


In Mark's British Politics Corner we look at Therese Coffey and Baron McColl claiming obesity, age and population density are the reasons for the UK's atrocious COVID response.


In the Fallacy in the Wild, we check out examples from The Simpsons and Brothers & Sisters.


Jim and Marsh go head to head in Fake News, the game in which Marsh has to guess which of three Trump quotes Jim made up.


Then Jim talks to Marsh from the Merseyside Skeptics about how he got started in skepticism, how to help friends and family in danger of believing things like Q, and the plans for the next QED conference, among other things.


And finally, we round up some of the other crazy Trump stories from the past week.


The full show notes for this episode can be found at http://fallacioustrump.com/ft68


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P.S. Mark is taking a break from the podcast for a few episodes due to work commitments, but he will return - promise!



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Ever find yourself in a conversation where something just sounds off, but you can't quite pinpoint the flawed reasoning? That's the territory Fallacious Trump explores, though it stretches far beyond a single figure. Hosts Jim & Mark have built this podcast around a simple, potent premise: using glaring public examples, primarily from Donald Trump's rhetoric but also pulled from UK politics and everyday pop culture, to dissect the formal logical fallacies that shape so much of our discourse. Each episode isolates one specific fallacy-like ad hominem attacks, false dilemmas, or appeals to emotion-and breaks down how it works. You'll hear the actual clips and statements, followed by a clear explanation of why the logic fails. It’s not just about identifying these tricks in others; the discussion always turns toward practical self-defense. Jim & Mark dig into the psychology of why these fallacies can be so persuasive, offer advice on how to avoid using them yourself in heated debates, and suggest effective strategies for countering them when they’re deployed against you. This makes the show a unique blend of current events, philosophical logic, and social commentary, delivered with a mix of exasperation and wit. For anyone looking to sharpen their critical thinking and navigate today’s chaotic news and culture landscape with a more discerning ear, this podcast provides an engaging, often darkly humorous toolkit.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 220

Fallacious Trump
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