Argumentum ad Imaginibus

Argumentum ad imaginibus is one of the many smokescreens that are used to cover the fact that the reasoning is based on one of the three fallacies of Agrippa's trilemma. Whenever a logical fallacy is committed, the fallacy has its roots in Agrippa's trilemma. All human thought (without Divine revelation) is based on one of three unhappy possibilities. These three possibilities are infinite regression, circular reasoning, or axiomatic thinking. This problem is known as Agrippa's trilemma. Some have claimed that only logic and math can be known without Divine revelation; however, that is not true. Without Divine revelation, neither logic nor math can be known. Science is also limited to the pragmatic because of the weakness on human reasoning, which is known as Agrippa's trilemma.

Argumentum ad Imaginibus occurs when the identification of logical fallacies in one’s argument are dismissed solely because someone uses a prepared graphic to clearly explain the logical error.

Examples of Argumentum ad Imaginibus

Rocky: "You have stated that evolution can be observed in the presence since there are small changes from one generation to another and then made the conclusion that evolution, meaning the Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story, took place. This is such a common fallacy of evolutionists that I have prepared this graphic to show you that this is the fallacy of equivocation on the word, 'evolution.'"

Sandy: "That's just stupid that you have a graphic to describe a fallacy. I reject your argument."

Sandy has probably been totally brainwashed through whatever education he has received. He has heard professors and teachers repeat this fallacy verbatim without flinching. To now hear that the whole thing is a fallacy is shocking to Sandy's inner fake-reality (worldview). He is particularly hurt by seeing it in graphic form, and so he reacts against the graphic.

Fallacy Abuse

Rocky: "The reason that I believe that the Bible is the word of God is because God speaks to me. He tells me that the Bible is His Utterance without error, and that it is the way that He has chosen to tell us about doctrine and the history of the Universe. Then, He speaks to me through the Bible."

Sandy: "You believe the Bible because that Bible says that it is the Word of God. Here is a nifty graphic to explain it."

Rocky: "Let me repeat myself. Here is another nifty graphic to help you understand. God speaks to me and tells me that the Bible is His Utterance without error. He speaks to me through the Bible. This is not circular reasoning. I'm merely believing God rather than you."

 

Sandy: "That's the logical fallacy of argumentum ad imaginibus. You are just rejecting my argument because I showed you a nifty graphic."

Sometimes, when people learn logic, they have no desire to know what is true and what is false. Rather, they focus on memorizing fallacies and syllogisms without understanding the concepts behind them. Then, they go through life thinking they are wise when they are fools.