History Main / StrawVulcan

* Subverted by Paul Redeker in WorldWarZ. While his rather [[EmotionsVsStoicism amoral]] plans to save [[spoiler: parts of]] the white population of South Africa during a black uprising make him universally despised, these plans end up [[spoiler: saving millions]].

See DumbIsGood, YouFailLogicForever, GivingUpOnLogic and UnweavingTheRainbow. Compare StrawHypocrite. The existence of this character means that the writer falls on the Romanticist side of RomanticismVersusEnlightenment.Contrast to EmotionsVsStoicism. {{Opposite trope|s}} to StrawmanEmotional.

The word "emotion" is often used here in places where "intuition" or "instinct" might be more accurate: ''i.e.,'' instances where the subconscious mind reaches a correct answer faster than the conscious mind can perform a step-by-step reasoned analysis (such as, "Run!" or "Shoot!" or "I get a trustworthy vibe from this stranger,"); or feats of lateral thinking that involve bypassing the sort of rigid categorization systems that western philosophy traditionally favors. ''This'' sort of thing is a [[JustifiedTrope perfectly legitimate]] dichotomy, but the issue is rarely described this way, instead calling it "logic vs. emotion," which is much more questionable.

The word "emotion" is often used here in places where "intuition" or "instinct" might be more accurate: ''i.e.,'' instances where the subconscious mind reaches a correct answer faster than the conscious mind can perform a step-by-step reasoned analysis (such as, "Run!" or "Shoot!" or "I get a trustworthy vibe from this stranger,"); or feats of lateral thinking that involve bypassing the sort of rigid categorization that western philosophy traditionally favors. ''This'' sort of thing is a [[JustifiedTrope perfectly legitimate]] dichotomy, but the issue is rarely described this way, instead calling it "logic vs. emotion," which is much more questionable.

The word "emotion" is often used here in places where "intuition" or "instinct" might be more accurate: ''i.e.,'' instances where the subconscious mind reaches a correct answer faster than the conscious mind can perform a step-by-step reasoned analysis (such as, "Run!" or "Shoot!" or "I get a trustworthy vibe from this stranger,"); or feats of lateral thinking that involve bypassing the sort of rigid categorization that western philosophy traditionally favors. ''This'' sort of thing is a [[JustifiedTrope perfectly legitimate dichotomy,]] but the issue is rarely described this way, instead calling it "logic vs. emotion," which is much dicier.

The word "emotion" is often used here in places where "intuition" or "instinct" might be more accurate: ''i.e.,'' instances where the subconscious mind reaches a correct answer faster than the conscious mind can perform a step-by-step reasoned analysis (such as, "Run!" or "Shoot!" or "I get a trustworthy vibe from this stranger,"); or feats of lateral thinking that involve bypassing the sort of rigid categorization that western philosophy traditionally favors.

The word "emotion" is often used here in places where "intuition" might be more accurate: ''i.e.,'' instances where the subconscious mind reaches a correct answer faster than the conscious mind can perform a step-by-step reasoned analysis; or feats of lateral thinking that involve bypassing the sort of rigid categorization that western philosophy traditionally favors.

* The Straw Vulcan, and by extension all logical thinkers, will be uncreative, or at least less so than [[HotBlooded emotional people]]. He will be unable to come up with an imaginative answer to an unusual problem, while the [[TheKirk emotional protagonist]], often despite having no real experience with this kind of situation, will be able to save the day. This is supposed to show that "logic" is inferior to "emotion" in that emotion can provide [[TakeAThirdOption a third and more favorable option]] to the logician's bad and worse options.

* The Straw Vulcan will often commit the FallacyFallacy, dismissing a conclusion simply because it was based on invalid logic or on emotion. While the fact that an argument contains a fallacy is grounds for dismissing that argument, it does not prove that the conclusion is wrong. Basically, you can get the right answer for the wrong reason.

* Sokka of WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender is often put in this position when the Gaang is trying to help people. However, it's subverted in "The Fortuneteller", where they have to convince the people that the [[spoiler:volcano will erupt]]. Although a lot of times Sokka will act on instinct and emotion. Oftentimes he is actually very practical and logical in the non-straw sense. Over the course of the series though, he grows out of it. By the time of ''Legend Of Korra,'' when Sokka is a judge, his response to [[spoiler: a crime-boss being accused of blood-bending without a full moon,]] is more or less, "Yes, it's supposed to be impossible, but I've seen a lot of weird, seemingly-impossible crap in my life, so let's discuss it."

* Stein Heigar from ''InfiniteRyvius''. He starts out as one of the most competent members of the Zwei, but as things get worse his inability to control the situation leads him to JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope and eventually having a total breakdown.

* Related to the PerfectSolutionFallacy: The Straw Vulcan will proceed to disturb everyone with doomsaying that their current plan "only has a 10% chance for us to succeed", and then the emotional protagonist proceeds to disprove him by saying "NeverTellMeTheOdds" and succeeding. Actually, when all other options are depleted, the plan that has a 10% chance of success is logically superior to other courses of action that have less chance of success. (And presumably doing nothing means a 0% chance) Bothering people with remarks about low chances of success in critical situations may degrade their morale and thus further diminish said chances, so it doesn't make logical sense to quote poor odds unless there's a better option that can be taken.[[note]]Or the "logical" character has factored the other characters' personalities into the equation and are actually counting on the fact that telling them it's unlikely to work actually makes it MORE likely they'll try harder than usual and therefore succeed, just to prove the logical character wrong.[[/note]] Pessimism for pessimism's sake in a time of need simply isn't logical, no need to be the sensitive guy of the cast to figure ''that'' out.

** Speaking of ''{{Bones}}'', [[spoiler:Zack's decision to work for a cannibalistic serial killer because "his logic is unassailable". Really? Even accepting all his premises, where exactly does eating people and making a skeleton from their remains fit in to this plan?]] Of course, the ADA then dismisses the entire logic argument by saying this happened "the same way it always happens. A strong personality meets a weak one and decides to take advantage."

* In ''{{Logicomix}}'', Ferge is totally honest and devoted to truth & logic. Sadly, this devotion combined with IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance leads to BlackAndWhiteInsanity in the form of a Straw Vulcan despise for women and jews. On the whole, this make him a TroubledSympatheticBigot who is desperately trying to do the right thing.

** "Destiny of the Daleks", has the Daleks and Movellans, two "perfectly logical" races, at war in a perpetual stalemate because neither of them, each knowing the other will anticipate and compensate for their logical strategies, can find the best time to attack. This is possible if there's a ColdWar-type mutually assured destruction, but it's written as Straw Vulcan "logic", including the "logical" computers not accepting short term losses (losing some soldiers) and not accepting other than a guaranteed success. The groups want Davros and the Doctor respectively to use illogic to help them win, and Davros eventually orders some Daleks to sacrifice themselves to destroy the Movellan ship. The story ends with AnAesop about making mistakes leading to winning. This one is especially weird because the Daleks are shown elsewhere to be anything but a "perfectly logical" race, being very emotional indeed (albeit the usual emotion being ''hate''). And they don't even have the excuse, such as it is, of falling into research failure; this story was written by Terry Nation, the Daleks' creator and the writer of over half the other Dalek stories to this point. For that matter, script editor Creator/DouglasAdams is usually very good about avoiding this trope too.

* Related to the PerfectSolutionFallacy: The Straw Vulcan will proceed to disturb everyone with doomsaying that their current plan "only has a 10% chance for us to succeed", and then the emotional protagonist proceeds to disprove him by saying "NeverTellMeTheOdds" and succeeding. Actually, when all other options are depleted, the plan that has a 10% chance of success is logically superior to other courses of action that have less chance of success. (And presumably doing nothing means a 0% chance) Bothering people with remarks about low chances of success in critical situations may degrade their morale and thus further diminish said chances, so it doesn't make logical sense to quote poor odds unless there's a better option that can be taken[[note]]Or the "logical" character has factored the other characters' personalities into the equation and are actually counting on the fact that telling them it's unlikely to work actually makes it MORE likely they'll try harder than usual and therefore succeed, just to prove the logical character wrong[[/note]]. Pessimism for pessimism's sake in a time of need simply isn't logical, no need to be the sensitive guy of the cast to figure ''that'' out.

* In ''TheStormlightArchive'' King Taravingian is under a curse/blessing that causes his intelligence to fluctuate and he becomes less compassionate and moral the smarter he gets, with the result that every morning he takes an intelligence test of his own devising. His ability to change policy is dependent on the results of the test, and becomes restricted if he's too stupid ''or'' too smart. Fortunately, this precaution was put in place before he came up with that plan to make everyone below a certain level of intelligence kill themselves. He does note that the inverse relationship between intelligence and emotion isn't how it works for most people, it's part of his condition.

* [[http://www.angryflower.com/whichb.html This]] episode of ''BobTheAngryFlower'' exhibits typical straw logic. Meanwhile acting ''extremely'' emotional. "Stop trying to control me!" indeed.
* Parodied in ''{{Fans}}!'', where one of the BigBad's plots was to go back in time and insert more instances of this trope into fiction -- thus making all of humanity stupider as a whole.

** Averted in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', where Spock [[spoiler:sacrifices himself by exposing himself to lethal doses of radiation]] to save the Enterprise, and justifies his actions on the basis of logic.

* The Straw Vulcan will often commit the FallacyFallacy, dismissing a conclusion simply because it was based on invalid logic or on emotion. While the fact that an argument contains a fallacy is grounds for dismissing that argument, it does not prove that the conclusion is wrong (i.e. it could get the right answer for the wrong reason).

It starts by having characters who think "[[YouKeepUsingThatWord logically]]" try to solve a problem - and they can't. Either they can't find any answer, or they're caught in some kind of standoff, or they're even stuck in a LogicBomb-type loop. Once this is established, someone who uses good old human emotion comes up with a solution that the logical thinker can't. This provides AnAesop that emotion is superior and that the logical thinker shouldn't trust logic so much.

The most common mistake is to assume that logic and emotion are [[FalseDichotomy somehow naturally opposed and that employing one means you can't have the other]]. Excluding emotion doesn't make your reasoning logical, however, and it certainly doesn't cause your answer to be automatically true. Likewise, an emotional response doesn't preclude logical thinking -- [[InsaneTrollLogic although it may prevent you from thinking in the first place]] -- and if an emotional plan is successful, that doesn't make logic somehow wrong.

* The Straw Vulcan will often commit the FallacyFallacy, dismissing a conclusion simply because it was based on invalid logic or on emotion. While the fact that an argument contains a fallacy is grounds for dismissing an argument, it does not prove that the conclusion is wrong.

** Averted in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', where Spock sacrifices himself by exposing himself to lethal doses of radiation to save the Enterprise, and justifies his self sacrifice on the basis of logic. HeGetsBetter.

* In ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'', Carrot displays the perfect balance between logic and emotion. Declining to go and rescue Angua who is being held prisoner on a Klatchian ship, he points out his presence is needed elsewhere where he can accomplish more.

* Frank Herbert's ''Literature/{{Dune}}'':

* In ''{{Jingo}}'', Carrot displays the perfect balance between logic and emotion. Declining to go and rescue Angua who is being held prosiner on a Klatchian ship, he points out his presence is needed elsewhere where he can accomplish more.
-->''Personal's not the same as important, sir.''

** "Destiny of the Daleks", has the Daleks and Movellans, two "perfectly logical" races, at war in a perpetual stalemate because neither of them, each knowing the other will anticipate and compensate for their logical strategies, can find the best time to attack. This is possible if there's a ColdWar-type mutually assured destruction, but it's written as Straw Vulcan "logic", including the "logical" computers not accepting short term losses (losing some soldiers) and not accepting other than a guaranteed success. The groups want Davros and the Doctor respectively to use illogic to help them win, and Davros eventually orders some Daleks to sacrifice themselves to destroy the Movellan ship. The story ends with AnAesop about making mistakes leading to winning. This one is especially weird because the Daleks are shown elsewhere to be anything but a "perfectly logical" race, being very emotional indeed (albeit the usual emotion being ''hate''). And they don't even have the excuse, such as it is, of falling into research failure; this story was written by Terry Nation, the Daleks' creator and the writer of over half the other Dalek stories to this point. For that matter, script editor DouglasAdams is usually very good about avoiding this trope too.

** Duke Leto, on the other hand, tries to go up against [[BigBad Baron]] [[MagnificentBastard Harkonnen's]] EvilPlan head on instead of swallowing his pride and going into exile, which, while perhaps cowardly, would ensure the safety of his family.

* Averted in, of all places, ''TheReplacements''. One episode revolves around the problems of Riley displaying some "Straw Vulcan" behavior.... however, it's never labeled as "logical", and in the end, it's determined that it's not innately inferior to more impulsive behavior... but just that each is better-suited to certain problems and situations.