Scientific Definition
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
Plain-English Definition
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
Feynman Explanation
Set the other side on fire, then claim victory over the ashes.
Core Principle
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
Mechanisms
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
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Inputs (Triggers)
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Outputs (Behaviors)
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Behavioral Signature
Set the other side on fire, then claim victory over the ashes.
Examples
- 'You want to invest in AI? So you want to fire everyone.'
- Strategy debates collapse into caricatures of opposing views.
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Famous Experiments
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Design Principles
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Measurement Approaches
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Evidence
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The Perverse Incentive Lens™
How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.
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Interactive Mini Network
Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.
Knowledge Graph Neighbors
Auto-linked to the rest of the Human Behavior Taxonomy by family, domain, dimension, and shared keywords.
Attacking the person rather than the argument.
It's true because authority says so.
Common sense says so, therefore it's true.
Believing something is true because of the consequences of its truth.
Claiming something is true because it hasn't been proven false (or vice versa).
If it's 'natural,' it's good.
It's better because it's newer.
It's right because it's how we've always done it.
I can't believe it; therefore it isn't true.
Saying it enough times until it sounds true.
It's true because many believe it.
Asking the other side to disprove an unsupported claim.