Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Flattery / Apple Polishing / Wheel Greasing / Brown Nosing / Appeal to Pride / Argumentum Ad Superbiam / Appeal to Snobbery / Appeal to Vanity / Proof Surrogate

The logical fallacy of appeal to flattery occurs when a person uses flattery to disrupt that ability of one or more other people to make rational decisions regarding truth or validity. Brown Nosing occurs when favor is sought by displaying exaggerated flattery or affection or by acting as a servant (but just to get something).

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Flattery / Apple Polishing / Wheel Greasing / Brown Nosing / Appeal to Pride / Argumentum Ad Superbiam / Appeal to Snobbery / Appeal to Vanity / Proof Surrogate

Flattery:"You are a great speaker."

Encouragement: "I want to thank you for your message tonight. I especially took to heart the part about spending time with Jesus and finding out His will before taking action. It reminded me that we are to acknowledge Him in all our ways and not to lean on our own understandings."

This is different from giving honest, detailed recognition to someone in order to encourage them. There is a huge difference between these two statements.

"Students, remember to pity those who are not as intelligent as you. You, however, are the intellectuals, since you believe in evolution, the billions-of-years old Earth, and the big bang."

When this message is repeatedly given to students, on the news, and in entertainment, it has the desired brainwashing effect, but it is simply an appeal to flattery or an appeal to snobbery--two fallacies that largely overlap.

"Congregation, remember to pity those who are not as holy as you, who don't believe our denomination's doctrines as we do."

These are the same two fallacies of appeal to flattery and appeal to snobbery. The doctrines have not been shown to be the revelation of the Holy Spirit through Scripture by this quote. Perhaps they are. Perhaps they are not. It is very difficult to analyze a paradigm from within the paradigm. The work of the Holy Spirit is to break down the strongholds and to set the captives free. Our walk is ever progressive from light to light and from glory to glory. It is easy for a person or an organization to get stuck, self-satisfied, and lukewarm.

"God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector."

Same problem, except, self-inflicted

Bill: "Would it be OK if I told you that you are beautiful?"

Sue: "Sure."

Bill: "Would you like to come over to my house tonight?"

Bill's reasoning is flattery. Will Sue listen to Bill or to the Holy Spirit who cannot lie?

The complexity of God’s Way understood in a single diagram

Obey your flesh and descend into darkness

How can we know anything about anything? That’s the real question

Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Flattery / Apple Polishing / Wheel Greasing / Brown Nosing / Appeal to Pride / Argumentum Ad Superbiam / Appeal to Snobbery / Appeal to Vanity / Proof Surrogate

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Flattery / Apple Polishing / Wheel Greasing / Brown Nosing / Appeal to Pride / Argumentum Ad Superbiam / Appeal to Snobbery / Appeal to Vanity / Proof Surrogate

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