The straw man argument: Definition and examples

What is a logical fallacy?

Before diving into the straw man argument, it’s useful to know what a logical fallacy is: an error in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or unsound. There are many types of logical fallacies. Other common logical fallacies include the red herring fallacy (a distraction from the core argument), the ad hominem fallacy (a personal or irrelevant attack), and the slippery slope fallacy (an escalation without basis).

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The definition of a straw man argument

The straw man fallacy takes an opponent’s point or stance and misrepresents it, often as an extreme or exaggeration. The arguer then rails against the inaccurate representation of their opponent’s position instead of the actual issue being discussed.

Straw man gets its name from the idea that a scarecrow can easily be destroyed as it’s a weak, inanimate opponent. This type of argument is frequently used by politicians to garner support and attack their adversaries, but the arguments are not fairly representing the opponent’s view.

How to identify a straw man argument

Here are some signs that the argument you’re witnessing (or using) is a straw man fallacy:

• Oversimplifies or makes a generalization
• Exaggerates
• Uses extreme opinions that the opponent didn’t make
• Takes things out of context
• Only focuses on specific pieces of the opponent’s statement

Straw man argument examples

Let’s dig into specific straw man arguments to show how one person misconstrues what the other is saying.

Example 1:

• Person A: We should regulate the use of plastic bags since they’re causing a lot of damage to the environment.
• Person B: So, you want to ban all plastic bags and make it impossible for people to carry things? That’s ridiculous!

In this example, Person B makes the straw man argument by responding to an extreme stance that Person A never made. Person A simply wants to create more rules surrounding plastic bags, not ban them completely.

Example 2:

• Person A: We should invest more money in education and increase public school funding.
• Person B: Why should we throw unlimited amounts of money at schools? You’re going to bankrupt the entire country!

In this example, Person B is misrepresenting Person A’s argument by exaggerating it to an extreme. Person A just said we should allocate more money toward education, not put all money into education. Person B is trying to make Person A’s argument seem unreasonable and easier to dismiss without engaging in the real argument.

How to respond to a straw man argument

The best way to prevent your opponent from using a straw man argument on you is by using clear and specific language. This gives your opponent less room to twist your argument. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to completely avoid a straw man argument. Here’s what you can do if someone tries to use a straw man argument on you:

• Point out the straw man. Draw attention to your opponent’s straw man fallacy. Explain to them why their argument is taking your stance out of context. Ask them to explain why they think their stance and what you argued are the same thing.
• Ignore the straw man. One option is to simply ignore their straw man argument and continue with your stance. However, if you ignore the straw man, your opponent may continue to bring it up.
• Accept the straw man. When you accept the straw man argument, you’ll need to defend the misconstrued version of your argument that your opponent brought up. However, accepting the straw man argument can make it harder to point out your opponent’s fallacy, since it may seem like you accept their misconstrued argument as your opinion.

Understanding the straw man fallacy sharpens your logic and reasoning skills. You might also want to study the art of rhetoric to strengthen your arguments, whether you’re writing a strong persuasive essay or establishing a thesis statement.