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Antirhesis

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Antirhesis

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Antirhesis is rejection of an argument because it is bad in some way.

Example

You may say that Jane does not agree, but she is not even on the team!

How can you suggest that? It would be very wrong to do that to her.

That's a nice argument. It's a shame that it is invalid.

Discussion

Common reasons for using antirhesis is because the argument being rejected has a logical flaw, promotes something minor as being major, or is wicked or bad in some way.

In argumentation, as well as promoting your own case, you also need to demolish your opponent's argument. Antirhesis is a way of doing this.

Classification: Reduction, Reasoning