AS EVERYONE KNOWS
I once saw a list of logical fallacies that might pop up in argument. I not sure if ’as everyone knows’ was one of them, under a different name, but it seems to be getting a heavy workout lately in the secular media. Another name for it might be ‘Assume We are right and They are misguided,’ although that is obviously too long for acceptance by the textbook editors.
Salespeople have a related closing (the sale) technique called ‘Assume they’ll buy’ according to which they brusquely go forward with their scenario as though there is no doubt whatsoever that all parties concerned agree that the offer is absolutely delightful, and all that remains is to take care of a few details like filling out and signing the order form.
What they have in common is the ‘assume’ part, which allows no room for considering whether what the other person thinks might be worth exploring. So: “As everyone knows, religion is opposed to science and clear thinking,” or “As everyone knows, the thing to do is to have safe sex whenever an attractive opportunity arises.”
Parents are familiar with this gambit, and spend a lot of time leading their kids through a chain of clear thinking steps to show that what ‘everyone’ knows, or does, isn’t necessarily valid. Just having a compilation of all the wrong things that ‘everyone knows’ (according to the secular mind) would be an enormous boon, especially if it included thumbnail explanations of where the hidden fallacies lie.
