What Is a Straw Man?

A straw man is a rhetorical device used to explain an opponent’s argument, especially one that is particularly difficult to explain. It is not literally true, but helps paint a picture of what the other person is saying. It is often used in debates, political discourse, business negotiations, and everyday conversation.

The term “straw man” comes from the idea that it is easier to knock down a straw figure than it is to attack an actual person. The straw man technique essentially involves misrepresenting someone else’s argument, making it easier to criticize or refute.

Examples of Straw Man Arguments

Here are some examples of straw man arguments to help explain the concept further.

Example 1: A person might argue that the government should increase the minimum wage. Their opponent could then make a straw man argument by saying that the person is asking for an outrageous amount of money, when the person wasn’t suggesting such a figure.

Example 2: Someone might argue that the government should provide more access to health care. Their opponent might respond with a straw man argument by saying that the person is suggesting free health care for everyone, when the person wasn’t suggesting such a thing.

Example 3: A business person might argue that in order to increase profits, the company should invest in more technology. Their opponent might respond with a straw man argument by suggesting that the person is saying that the company should invest its entire budget in technology, when the person wasn’t suggesting such a thing.

Conclusion

A straw man is a rhetorical device used to explain an opponent’s argument. It is an oversimplification of what the person argued, making it easier to criticize or refute. Hopefully, these examples have given you an understanding of what a straw man is and how it can be used in debates, political discourse, and everyday conversation.