This is an example of a post hoc fallacy. A post hoc fallacy occurs when Event X follows Event Y, and can therefore be assumed that Event X was caused by Event Y. In this case, Event X would be the prevention of alligators from Sesame Street and Event Y would be the banana in Ernie's ear. This is illogical because clearly holding a banana in your ear or anywhere near your head will do nothing to stop an alligator and furthermore, makes Ernie's claim illogical and false.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Sesame Street Logical Fallacy
In this short skit (Part 2) from the popular children's TV show, Sesame Street, Ernie is seen holding a banana in his left ear. Because something like this is out of the ordinary, Bert asks Ernie why he's doing it. He replies that it keeps the alligators away from him and out of Sesame Street. Of course we know this isn't true, but when Bert brings up that it there aren't any alligators on Sesame Street anyway, Ernie says "Right! It's doing a good job then isn't it, Bert?" In this situation, Ernie is assuming illogically that holding a banana in his ear will protect him from any alligators that may be near him.
This is an example of a post hoc fallacy. A post hoc fallacy occurs when Event X follows Event Y, and can therefore be assumed that Event X was caused by Event Y. In this case, Event X would be the prevention of alligators from Sesame Street and Event Y would be the banana in Ernie's ear. This is illogical because clearly holding a banana in your ear or anywhere near your head will do nothing to stop an alligator and furthermore, makes Ernie's claim illogical and false.
This is an example of a post hoc fallacy. A post hoc fallacy occurs when Event X follows Event Y, and can therefore be assumed that Event X was caused by Event Y. In this case, Event X would be the prevention of alligators from Sesame Street and Event Y would be the banana in Ernie's ear. This is illogical because clearly holding a banana in your ear or anywhere near your head will do nothing to stop an alligator and furthermore, makes Ernie's claim illogical and false.
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Classic Sesame Street logical fallacy. That show was full of nonsense.
ReplyDeleteThe presence of logical fallacies in kids shows displays how engrained in our society logical fallacies really are. Not even Sesame Street is innocent. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really well explained example of a post hoc fallacy, and, after, reading the text and watching the short video clip, I understand the concept of post hoc fallacies much more clearly. I think that it is very interesting how frequently logical fallacies turn up in our society. Sometimes they are used intentionally, sometimes they are not.
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation. I assume the fallacy in this particular instance was used intentionally for the sake of humor - if this one was unintentional I would be questioning the sanity of the show's writers.
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