Understand the definition of straw man and the structure of a straw man argument. View straw man fallacy examples and learn how to counter a straw man attack.
Updated: 12/08/2021
Straw Man Argument: Definition & Examples
Straw Man Definition
There are many different ways that people try to argue for their side on a topic. Good methods of argument are rational, thoughtful, focused, and well-supported. Other methods are completely illogical and do not clearly and effectively address the issue at hand. These flawed arguments are called logical fallacies. Logical fallacies can be nonsensical, deceptive, aggressive, or blatantly false.
A straw man (also known as "strawman") argument is one in which the person sets up and then attacks a position that is not actually being debated. The term "straw man" refers to a straw-filled scarecrow, a literal dummy that is easily attacked and destroyed, as opposed to a logical, critically-thinking human opponent. A straw man argument is a type of red herring, an argument meant to cause confusion, one that is deliberately misleading and irrelevant to the actual issue at hand. A red herring is a diversionary tactic that is used to distract one away from the actual issue being debated, and the straw man is one method of doing this.
Straw Man Argument Structure
A straw man argument attacks a different, usually much more extreme position than that which is actually being asserted. According to YourDictionary.com, "the basic structure of the argument consists of Person A making a claim, Person B creating a distorted version of the claim (the 'straw man'), and then Person B attacking this distorted version in order to refute Person A's original assertion." It typically takes on a fairly straightforward structure:
Person 1: Argues X
Person 2: Argues Y
Person 2: Argues that because of Y, X is false
Here is an example:
Person 1: Bananas are really good.
Person 2: Apples are better. Why do you hate apples? What about oranges? Do you hate oranges, too?
In this example, Person 1 has simply stated that they like bananas and has not mentioned any other fruit. Person 2 clearly likes apples but then makes the illogical argument that because Person 1 likes bananas, they must hate apples and oranges. This is a straw man argument.
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Straw Man Argument Examples
Here are a few more examples of straw man fallacies:
- Example A: Immigration policy is rife with straw man arguments in the political arena.
Person 1: We should make immigration to the United States an easier, more streamlined process.
Person 2: So you just want wide-open borders that would let anybody, even criminals and murders, into the U.S.
In this example, Person 2 has taken the idea of easier immigration to its most extreme, which is not what Person 1 has asserted at all.
- Example B: The so-called "war on Christmas" is another straw man fallacy.
Person 1: There are dozens of holidays in December. Saying "happy holidays" is a way to acknowledge them all.
Person 2: You are clearly anti-Christmas and don't want anybody to say "merry Christmas" anymore.
In this example, Person 1 has recognized that there are many holidays in December but has in no way asserted a preference for or aversion to any of them. Person 2 is making a straw man argument.
- Example C: Teenagers are great at straw man arguments.
Parent: You need to go and clean up your room before you go out with Sally.
Teen: It's my room, and I should be able to keep it how I want.
Parent: The rule is that your room must be kept clean.
Teen: Why do you hate me?!
In this example, the teenager actually starts to make a reasonable argument, that they should be allowed to maintain their personal space as they see fit. However, things quickly devolve into a straw man fallacy when the teen asserts that the parent hates them for enforcing the household rules.
Countering a Straw Man Attack
It can be difficult to refute an argument that seems somewhat silly, extreme, and/or does not at all respond to the initial topic. There are ways to counter straw man arguments, though.
- Ignore the straw man altogether and continue making the case for the argument at hand.
In the case of our immigration argument in Example A, ignoring the absurd assertion is a way of diffusing the straw man argument. Rather than address the concept of open borders, Person 1 could simply continue on with their ideas about streamlining the immigration process.
- Strengthen the original argument by clarifying and then refuting the straw man position.
In example B, clarifying the original position and refuting the straw man position could work well. In this case, Person 1 could clarify the straw man assertion: "You are saying that I am anti-Christmas simply because I recognize that there are other holidays during this time of year, as well?" If Person 2 were to continue with their fallacious assertion, then Person 1 could respond by pointing out that Christmas is one of the holidays in December, and thus Person 1 is acknowledging Christmas, along with others, in saying "happy holidays."
- Point out the use of the straw man tactic. Calling out the person when they use a logical fallacy helps to discredit their position and bring the topic back around to what is actually being asserted.
In the case of our teenager in Example C, the parent could say something like "You know that I don't hate you. In fact, I love you very much. It is important to keep our home clean so that we can avoid having bugs, dirt, germs, and other nasty things that are bad for you. I want you to live in a healthy environment because I love you."
The key to refuting a straw man argument is to remain calm and not get distracted or sidetracked by ridiculous assertions.
Lesson Summary
There are many types of flawed arguments that people make in response to debated issues. These are called logical fallacies, nonsensical, deceptive, aggressive, or blatantly false assertions in response to someone's position on an issue. People often resort to logical fallacies when they cannot make a reasonable argument to refute another person's position.
One type of logical fallacy is the straw man argument. In this fallacy, a person sets up a distorted, extreme or wholly illogical assertion about the topic so they can then attack this assertion rather than the actual issue at hand. The straw man argument is a type of red herring, an argument meant to distract or confuse the issue as a means of avoidance. There are several ways to refute straw man arguments, including calling out the fallacy, ignoring it entirely, or refuting it as a means of strengthening and reinforcing one's actual position on the issue.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you respond to a straw man argument?
There are several ways to respond to straw man arguments. You can either ignore the fallacy completely, address the fallacy head-on, or use it to strengthen your own argument.
What does it mean to make a straw man argument?
Making a straw man argument means that one is creating and then arguing against a position on the issue that no one is actually making. This is usually in the form of an extreme or exaggerated assertion.
What is an example of a straw man argument?
A straw man argument is when someone sets up and then disputes an assertion that is not actually being made. For example, if someone says they love the color blue and someone else argues that red is better, asserting that the first person obviously hates the color red, this would be a straw man argument.
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Straw Man Argument | Definition, Structure & Examples
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