Ignoratio elenchi

Ignoratio elenchi (also known as irrelevant conclusion or irrelevant thesis) is the informal fallacy of presenting an argument that may in itself be valid, but does not address the issue in question. "Ignoratio elenchi" can be roughly translated by ignorance of refutation, that is, ignorance of what a refutation could logically be; "elenchi" is from the Greek έλεγχος, meaning an argument of disproof or refutation.

Aristotle would describe ignoratio elenchi as a mistake made during a refutation of an argument. He called it "an ignorance" of what makes for a refutation. For Aristotle, ignoratio elenchi amounts to ignorance of logic. To Aristotle all logical fallacies can be reduced to ignoratio elenchi.

Red herring

Similar in category, but with darker implications than ignoratio elenchi, a "red herring" is an answer, given in reply to a questioner, that goes beyond an innocent logical irrelevance. A "red herring" is a deliberate attempt to divert a process of enquiry by changing the subject.

A "red herring" is a debating tactic that seeks desperately to divert a worthy opponent. A digression can, similarly, be a verbal tactic of diversion, but has no place in a serious debate; and the diversion of digression may also be in play.

During a political campaign effort, President Truman referred to accusations that his administrative policies leaked information to Communist Russia as a political red herring.

Translation

The phrase "Ignoratio elenchi" occurs as such in the following languages: English, Danish, German, Icelandic, Italian, Hungarian, Dutch, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, Finnish, Swedish, Ukrainian.

Translation(s) in other languages: Greek: Άγνοια ελέγχου, Hebrew: איגנורטיו אלנכי, Lithuanian: Raudona silkė, Japanese: 論点のすり替え, Norwegian (Bokmål): Avledningsmanøver, Chinese: 紅鯡魚.