No, I Didn't Buy You a Falcon

Modern day media, more specifically television commercials, uses logical fallacies constantly to make an attempt at attracting customers.One example of a commercial using a logical fallacy is in a state Farm commercial were a man claims his insurance agent purchased a falcon for him, while it is obvious that the argument is completely untrue.

The basis of the character's argument is the fact that he saved tons of money switching insurance companies and he used the money he saved to buy a falcon ergo the insurance agent bought him a falcon. The fallacy the commercial incorporates is a Post Hoc ( the assumption that, because two things occur at the same time or in a sequence one is caused by the other). The flaw in the mans argument is the fact that it was his choice to buy the falcon. Just because he used money he saved to buy said falcon does not mean the insurance companyis responsible.

Though it is important to note that the insurance used the humor in how rediculous the argument was to attract customers, they were not trying to make a logical argument. Logical fallacies can be used to actually try to win an argument or to poke fun at how ridiculous arguments can be. Either way logical fallacies are used in modern day media to convey ideas and arguments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7ZpWFTUz34

Comments

[Carleigh J.]

I completely agree with your opinion that these two events are correlated but the saving money is not a direct causation of the purchase of the falcon.

[Camille M.]

I agree that this commercial uses logical fallacies greatly. The commercial makes it seem like the State Farm is giving any customer a falcon when in reality they just use the money they saved. I also agree that the commercial is slightly poking fun at themselves.

[Maja K.]

I completely agree with you. Although it would be pretty awesome to get a falcon, the commercial is drawing in people's attention with the possibility of getting such an unusual thing, when really, they are only saving money, which in the long run, will enable them to buy a falcon.

[Tim Wilson]

Such a great play on the commercial, well done!