Example 1: Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy People may readily make assumptions with little evidence, especially with no other plausible explanations. Giles Corey exclaims, “And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly—mark this—I could pray again!”(Miller 40). Miller utilizes a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy to show how people easily jump to conclusions from little evidence, which leads to one to believe an impossible phenomena happens for a certain reason. The example of how Giles Corey makes the illogical connection of his wife’s reading to his inability to properly function show how the people of Salem lack the ability to think logically in the event of a possible witch encounter. In addition, the use of post …show more content…
The use of fallacy of the false alternative leads to a character stuck between choices of two scenarios, which may appear equally horrid. Judge Thomas Danforth rants to the court, “I will tell you this—you are either lying now, or you were lying in the court, and in either case you have committed perjury and you will go to jail for it”(Miller 102). Miller’s use of fallacy of the false alternative emphasizes the guilt the court pours onto Mary Warren. Mary simply answers “no” to the false accusations presented to her (Miller 101). However, The fallacy of the false alternative escalates Danforth’s argument to the point in which he accuses Mary as a liar. The pressing of Danforth towards Mary reveals how Danforth will not easily accept an excuse for Mary’s actions. Additionally, the uses of a fallacy of the false alternative results in a person’s seemingly innocent action seem horrendous. The clever tactic pushes the character in the court to seem guilty from both the audience’s point of view and those within the court. Miller’s use of such a fallacy emphasizes how people verbally attack each other in times of disbelief, as shown by the judge of the court. An uncertain party can accuse others in attempt to receive their way and turn a mob against a singular person. An offering of only two options when more exist allows someone to press their own wants or intentions out of another’s mouth. The powerful may take