Straw Man Arguments

Reviews / Votes

Written with admirable clarity and liveliness, this accessible volume reveals the unexpected complexities of straw man arguments. Aikin and Casey supply a thoughtful taxonomy of this fallacy and address some of the puzzles it generates. Along the way, they share their exceptional expertise on how to teach argumentation theory, and exemplify the value of knowing how to argue about arguments. * Alessandra Tanesini, Professor of Philosophy, Cardiff University, UK * Aikin and Casey strike all the right notes in a symphony of careful analysis, compelling examples, and insights into Straw Man arguments, interwoven with motifs on fallacy theory, methodology, and pedagogy - including clever original riffs on the situational value of Straw-Manning and the downsides to Iron-Manning. * Dan Cohen, Professor of Philosophy, Colby College, USA * In a highly connected world where people often seem to be talking past each other, this book-length treatment of straw man arguments comes just at the right time. Superbly written, it presents a truly innovative approach both to straw man arguments and to fallacy theories, thus shedding new light on these puzzling yet pervasive phenomena. It will completely overhaul how we think about straw man arguments for years to come. * Catarina Dutilh Novaes, Professor of Philosophy, VU Amsterdam, Netherlands *