History Main / AppealToFlattery

See the wiki page [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_flattery for more on the logical fallacy.

See the wiki page [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_flattery for more on the logical fallacy]]. Compare to AppealToVanity.

--> "Surely an intelligent, sophisticated reader such as yourself [[SelfDemonstratingArticle doesn't need an example or demonstration]] to recognize an Appeal to Flattery?"

!'''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_flattery Appeal to Flattery]]''':
!!! Also called:
* Appeal to Vanity
* Emperor's New Clothes

* Probably the most well-known example is Creator/HansChristianAndersen's tale of ''Literature/TheEmperorsNewClothes'', where two conmen trick a vain monarch into purchasing a non-existent robe by claiming that only those unfit for their positions or hopelessly stupid cannot see the special thread it is made from.

* Very common in politics, where loaded positive terms are used to describe positions: for example, people do not call themselves ''anti-abortion'' but ''pro-life'', and their opponents say they are ''pro-choice'' rather than ''pro-abortion''. Who would want to oppose "life" or "choice?"

* Probably the most well-known example is Hans Christian Andersen's tale of The Emperor's New Clothes, where two conmen trick a vain monarch into purchasing a non-existent robe by claiming that only those unfit for their positions or hopelessly stupid cannot see the special thread it is made from.

Another simple fallacy in which it is suggested that accepting a particular conclusion speaks well of the person who accepts it. This is a variant of {{Appeal to Consequences}}, since the unstated suggestion is that if someone does ''not'' accept the argument, one must attribute the opposite qualities to that person. This is a particularly common form of appeal in "soft" advertising in which the audience is encouraged to associate the use of the advertised product with desirable qualities of the people being shown using it, such as their being attractive, intelligent, and/or popular.

Appeal to Flattery has a flip side known as "blocking disagreement" which generally amounts to a kind of pluralized personal attack. ([[HypocriticalHumor Of course, only total idiots would fail to recognize this for a fallacy.]]) This is sometimes a kind of implied subtext in the aforementioned "soft" advertising as well: since all the attractive, intelligent, and/or popular people are using this product, the advertising implies, you obviously don't want to be one of what must be those ugly stupid losers who ''don't'' use this product, do you?

In a variant, one can appeal to perceived positive qualities of a group and a course of action, without ever establishing a link between them or even being required to demonstrate that the group has those qualities. "Surely loyal, patriotic soldiers like yourselves would be willing to put up with the mild inconvenience of public, mandatory cavity searches of all passengers embarking on a plane in order to make sure terrorists don't threaten our civil liberties."

::Another simple fallacy in which it is suggested that accepting a particular conclusion speaks well of the person who accepts it. This is a variant of {{Appeal to Consequences}}, since the unstated suggestion is that if someone does ''not'' accept the argument, the flattery is untrue. Very, very popular in advertising.

Appeal to Flattery has a flip side. It is known as "blocking disagreement" and usually involves a personal attack. [[HypocriticalHumor Of course, only an idiot would fail to recognize this for a fallacy.]]

In a variant, one can appeal to perceived positive qualities of a group and a course of action, without ever establishing a link between them or even demonstrating that the group has those qualities. "Surely loyal, patriotic soldiers like yourselves would be willing to put up with the mild inconvenience of public, mandatory cavity searches of all passengers embarking on a plane in order to make sure terrorists don't threaten our civil liberties."

* While people of any belief, or lack thereof, are prone to this, an example is the atheist website "Rational Wiki" (as shown by the name).

* Some proponents of the New Atheist movement are prone to this in RealLife. An example of this is the website "Rational Wiki" (as shown by the name).

* Some proponents of the New Atheist movement are prone to this in RealLife. An example of this is the website RationalWiki.

* Anytime an advert implies that only intelligent, strong or popular people buy its products.
** This overlaps with the BandwagonFallacy, and [[HypocriticalHumor surely a rapidly growing contingent of very intelligent, clever, and sexy tropers]] would see how an advertisement can easily commit both at once.
* When someone begins a sentence with "Surely even an idiot cannot deny that ..." or "Obviously, it is true that ...", this trope is likely (but not always) being used. The implication for the first one is that a person who denies the claim is worse than an idiot; the second implies that, if you don't think it is true, you are missing the obvious.
** Often used by conspiracy theorists. For example, "Don't tell me ur 2 stupid to realize 9/11 was an inside job lol."
** Some Democrats in the US claimed that, on average, Democrats were more intelligent than the opposing Republicans. [[NotSoDifferent Naturally,]] some Republicans have put forth [[http://therightstuff.biz/2014/11/05/republicans-are-smarter-than-democrats/ similar]] [[http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/03/10/pew-makes-it-official-republicans-are-smarter-than-democrats-54686 claims.]]
*** This also serves as an example of the FallacyFallacy. There is [[http://www3.norc.org/GSS+Website/ some evidence]] that those who identify as "very liberal" in the United States have a mean IQ about ten points higher than those who identify as "very conservative." The Democrats are using a fallacious AppealToFlattery, but that does not mean the results of the General Social Survey or the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health - the sources of these claims - can be dismissed just on those grounds. It gets more complex because intelligence correlates best with the philosophy of classical liberalism, a belief that has ties both to left-liberalism and to libertarianism. The former is very close the Democrat's position, but neither party reflects the intellectual tradition of classical liberalism via libertarianism very well.

Appeal to Flattery has a flip side. It is known as "blocking disagreement" and usually involves a personal attack. [[HypocriticalHumor Of course, only an idiot would fail to recognize this for a fallacy.]]

In a variant, one can appeal to perceived positive qualities of a group and a course of action, without ever establishing a link between them or even demonstrating that the group has those qualities. "Surely loyal, patriotic soldiers like yourselves would be willing to put up with the mild inconvenience of public, mandatory cavity searches of all passengers embarking on a plane in order to make sure terrorists don't threaten our civil liberties."
** And of course [[HypocriticalHumor witty, tolerant tropers such as yourselves]] would have the patience to bear with a [[RuleOfThree third example]] of HypocriticalHumor in what is becoming a RunningGag.

** The Democratic political party in the US claimed that, on average, Democrats were more intelligent than the opposing Republicans.

* This is one of many techniques Palpatine uses to manipulate Anakin in the ''StarWars'' prequels. He tells Anakin that he is the most awesome Jedi ever and that he is just way too awesome to take orders from that silly Jedi Council, who are clearly [[YoureJustJealous Just Jealous]] if they don't treat someone as awesome as Anakin with the proper reverence. This works extremely well because it's exactly what Anakin ''wants'' to believe.

::Another simple fallacy in which it is suggested that accepting a particular conclusion speaks well of the person who accepts it. This is a variant of Appeal to Consequences, since the unstated suggestion is that if someone does ''not'' accept the argument, the flattery is untrue. Very, very popular in advertising.

In a variant, one can appeal to perceived positive qualities of a group and a course of action, without ever establishing a link between them or even demonstrating that the group has those qualities. "Surely loyal, patriotic soldiers like yourselves would be willing to put up with the mild inconvenience of public, mandatory cavity searches of all passengers embarking on a plane in order to make sure terrorists don't threaten our civil liberties."

* When someone begins a sentence with "Surely even an idiot cannot deny that ..." or "Obviously, it is true that ...", this trope is likely (but not always) being used. The implication for the first one is that a person who denies the claim is worse than an idiot; the second implies that, if you don't think it is true, you are missing the obvious.

* Anytime someone begins a sentence with "Surely even an idiot cannot deny that ..." or "Obviously, it is true that ...", this trope is likely (but not always) being used. The implication for the first one is that a person who denies the claim is worse than an idiot; the second implies that, if you don't think it is true, you are missing the obvious. Appeal to Flattery has a flip side.
** The flip side is known as "blocking disagreement" and usually involves a personal attack. [[HypocriticalHumor Of course, only an idiot would fail to recognize this for a fallacy.]]
* Related, one can appeal to perceived positive qualities of a group and a course of action, without ever establishing a link between them or even demonstrating that the group has those qualities. Religion can be used, but so can membership in a group known for other traits. "Surely loyal, patriotic soldiers like yourselves would be willing to put up with the mild inconvenience of public, mandatory cavity searches of all passengers embarking on a plane in order to make sure terrorists don't threaten our civil liberties."

** And of course [[HypocriticalHumor witty, tolerant tropers such as yourselves]] would have the patience to bear with a third example of HypocriticalHumor in what is becoming a RunningGag.

** The flip side is known as "blocking disagreement" and usually involves a personal attack. [[HypocriticalHumor Of course, only an idiot would fail to recognize this for a fallacy.]]

* Anytime someone begins a sentence with "Surely even an idiot cannot deny that ..." or "Obviously, it is true that ...", this trope is likely (but not always) being used. The implication for the first one is that a person who denies the claim is worse than an idiot; the second implies that, if you don't think it is true, you are missing the obvious. Appeal to Flattery has a flipside.

* This is one of many techniques Palpatine uses to manipulate Anakin in the ''StarWars'' prequels. He tells Anakin that he is the most awesome Jedi ever and that he is just way too awesome to take orders from that silly Jedi Council, who are clearly [[{{Ptitle4mnuvch9oyjr}} Just Jealous]] if they don't treat someone as awesome as Anakin with the proper reverence. This works extremely well because it's exactly what Anakin ''wants'' to believe.

-->"Surely an intelligent, sophisticated man such as yourself can see the many benefits of owning an inflatable gazebo?"

* This is one of many techniques Palpatine uses to manipulate Anakin in the ''StarWars'' prequels. He tells Anakin that he is the most awesome Jedi ever and that he is just way too awesome to take orders from that silly Jedi Council, who are clearly [[{{Ptitle4mnuvch9oyjr}} Just Jealous]] if they don't treat someone as awesome as Anakin with the proper reverence. This works extremely well because it's exactly what Anakin ''wants'' to believe.

* This is one of many techniques Palpatine uses to manipulate Anakin in the ''StarWars'' prequels. He tells Anakin that he is the most awesome Jedi ever and that he is just way too awesome to take order from that silly Jedi Council, who are clearly [[{{Ptitle4mnuvch9oyjr}} Just Jealous]] if they don't treat someone as awesome as Anakin with the proper reverence. This works extremely well because it's exactly what Anakin ''wants'' to believe.

-->"Surely an intelligent, sophisticated man such as yourself can see the many benefits of owning an inflatable gazebo?"