The Art of Deceit Podcast Olivia Bedford

Real life: I almost named this episode "Because Reasons," but decided not to since I figured that while it would be very entertaining for me, it would not be so great for search engines. It's true.
Anyway. Today we're doing an overview of the Special Pleading Fallacy. In a nutshell, it is the exemption of a person or premise from a generally accepted rule, without justification for the exemption. In other words: an exception to the rule...because reasons. (Get it now?? heheh.)
We're going over a more in-depth definition, several very relevant examples of this fallacy in the real world, and lastly, some good questions to ask in response to a Special Pleading fallacy.
Have a blessed and restful Thanksgiving, you wonderful people!
Show notes: http://theartofdeceit.com/episode-19-special-pleading-fallacy/

On today's extra-special episode, we're welcoming Hans Bluedorn, author of "The Fallacy Detective" onto the show! 
Hans and I discuss why he and his brother decided to write this book specifically for young adults, how learning to think critically has helped him in his own life, and how lack of reasoning skills has influenced our political and social climate in a negative way. 
Show Notes: http://theartofdeceit.com/episode-18-fallacy-detective/

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all are successfully getting into the holiday spirit this year. Thanksgiving is coming up quickly! 
On today's episode, we're going to be discussing a couple of topics that are relevant to our current tense political climate: combat culture and defusing arguments. Combat culture involves being obliged to take a warlike approach to just about any issue, whether or not it is appropriate or necessary. We talk about the negative effect this has on all of us, and why we really don't need to get riled up on every issue presented to us. We then discuss several relevant (but sometimes silly) ways to defuse a tense situation should you find yourself in one.
Today's show notes: http://theartofdeceit.com/episode-17-combat-culture/

Teaching logic is one of Bethany Barnosky's many specialties. Today, Bethany and I are going into the second half of our discussion on logic, reasoning, and wisdom, and it's a fantastic conversation that you do not want to miss!
We talk about the problems of dogmatism, generalization and meanings of words, why it's okay to listen and ask questions, and how parents and kids can enjoy learning critical thinking skills. Bethany also covers what concepts her students struggle to grasp most, how she incorporated critical thinking into her son's life, and why logic is just the beginning of reasoning, not the end of it.
Today's Show Notes: http://theartofdeceit.com/episode-16-interview-teaching-logic-pt-2/

Today I'm interviewing Mrs. Bethany Barnosky for part one of our interview on logic and critical thinking skills in education. 
Mrs. Barnosky is a master teacher who has taught mathematics, logic, and economics, and currently works as a teacher and educational consultant. She is incredible knowledgeable about all things formal and informal logic, and inductive and deductive reasoning. 
Our conversation was so enjoyable for me, and I can't wait for you guys to hear part two next week!
Today's Show Notes: http://theartofdeceit.com/episode-15-interview-reasoning-skills-part-one/

Happy Monday! Today, we're discussing the Red Herring fallacy. Let's get distracted, shall we?
The Red Herring is a classic argumentative tactic used to distract from a topic or to avoid a question. The sneaky thing about this fallacy? It's like a chameleon, taking on many different forms and shapes but deep down, it's always the same. 
We're going to talk about the different combinations of Red Herrings that are out there, walk through several relevant examples, and equip you to not only spot them elsewhere but to know how to avoid committing them yourself. Let's go!
Today's Show Notes: http://theartofdeceit.com/episode-14-red-herring-special/