Poisoning the well
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This article is about the logical fallacy often referred to as "poisoning the well". For the non-metaphorical sense, see Well poisoning. For the Stargate Atlantis episode, see Poisoning the Well (Stargate Atlantis). For the metalcore band, see Poison the Well.
Poisoning the well is a logical fallacy where information is presented in order to produce a biased result. It is a special case of argumentum ad hominem.
The term was first used with this sense by John Henry Newman in his work Apologia Pro Vita Sua.[1]
[edit] Examples
- Example 1
- "Before you listen to my opponent, may I remind you that he has been in jail."
- "Don't listen to what he says, he's a lawyer."
In the examples above, unfavorable information (which may be true or false) is given about the target individual or subject in order to discredit the target and his/her arguments and statements.
- Example 2
- A woman says to her friend, "I think I might buy this beautiful dress". She then asks her friend how it looks.
In the above example, the woman's previous comment could have some effect on her friend's response.
- Example 3
- The so-called "Theory" of Relativity
We now examine the theory of relativity...
As shown by the example above, an inappropriate heading in a written work can create pre-bias and result in an unbalanced argument.
