Reductio / argumentum ad Hitlerum / Nazium ("reduction / appeal to Hitler / Nazis ") is a pseudo- Latin expression used to denote a modern logical trick . Using this trick is sometimes called "playing a Nazi card . " [one]
The term reductio ad Hitlerum was proposed by the neoconservative philosopher Leo Strauss in 1951 in an article for the journal Measure: a critical journal [2] , as well as in 1953 in the book Natural Right and History. [3]
The trick often takes the following form: “Hitler (or the Nazis) supported X , therefore, X is evil / something undesirable / something bad” [1] (example: “Hitler supported the fight against smoking , therefore, all such campaigns are evil”). The rhetorical value of the argument lies in the fact that in most communities, the values of Hitler and Nazism are automatically considered unacceptable, and the use of such a comparison can lead to the opponent an emotional reaction that does not allow a rational answer [1] .
An example of a counterargument: “And if Hitler says that twice two four, then twice two will automatically become equal to five ?”
A subspecies of this trick is to compare the opponent’s proposals with the Holocaust , the Gestapo , fascism or totalitarianism , as well as with terrorism [1] . The inverse form can also be used: "Hitler was against X , therefore, X is good."
See also
- Demagogy
- Godwin's Law
- And you have blacks lynched
- Think about the kids
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 Gary N. Curtis. Logical Fallacy: The Hitler Card . Fallacy Files (2004). Date of treatment May 10, 2009. Archived June 8, 2012.
- ↑ Hutchins, Robert Maynard. Measure: A Critical Journal . - H. Regnery Company, 1951.
- ↑ Natural Right and History . University of Oklahoma (2008). Date of treatment August 11, 2008.
Literature
- Gabriel H. Teninbaum Reduction ad Hitlerum: Trumping the Judicial Nazi Card . Michigan State Law Review, Vol. 2009, p. 541-578, 2009