Logical Fallacies in Advertising Essay

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Updated: Mar 18th, 2024

Samsung Neo QLED 8K

“Bring your favourite TV shows and movies to life with the real 8K viewing experience of Neo QLED 8K. Packed with Quantum Matrix Technology and Quantum Processor 8K, it is a true revolution in the TV industry. Need more reasons to buy? You can avail up to 20% cashback if you get it today (Tv Palace, 2021).”

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The Fallacy – Hasty Generalization

“Hasty generalization” (secundum quid) is a well-known and widespread categorical and logical error in advertising, in which the general is identified with a particular concept. It includes a conclusion about all or many cases of a phenomenon that has been achieved based on one or more examples of this phenomenon. For example, one can generalize about all people or members of a group based on what is known about only one or several people. Often, a fallacy occurs in the case of the negligent use of the induction method – a minimal number of facts that have become the basis for generalization. This is a finding made because of weak assumptions or a conclusion that is not supported by sufficient or impartial evidence.

Having considered one or two exceptional cases from any class of phenomena, people conclude everything. As a rule, people unreasonably generalize the opinion of others and uses this generalization to justify their point of view. They claim that one should accept their views and judgments since many people agree. If an object has some standard features from a group, it does not mean that this feature characterizes it without exception. A false conclusion may follow from the factual premises of this conclusion if a hasty generalization is allowed.

Explanation

Samsung is one of the largest companies producing mobile devices, large household appliances, televisions, and other equipment. Their advertisement states that the new Samsung Neo QLED 8K model is a revolution in the TV industry – a great product in a specific area, a “breakthrough” in innovation and technology. Undoubtedly, modern buyers are smart, and therefore the style of the text of the advertising message should reflect their tastes and values. In this case, such a generalization is unconvincing, and consumers need specific information to form an opinion and make a purchase decision. Undoubtedly, the advertisement’s text reflects the specific technologies of the TV very well, but the argumentation is even more critical.

Even though the new QLED model is endowed with a modern filling, an excellent processor, and a matrix, this does not make it “best of the best.” The seller clearly exaggerates and praises the product, and the consumer, in turn, may be skeptical and turn away from advertising. In fact, Samsung Neo QLED is a good TV with an excellent pictures. However, the company has other worthy competitors who are also leaders in the field of TV production. Additionally, to “bring to life” the favorite movies and TV series, a person is not obliged to buy Neo QLED. First, consumers proceed from the needs and capabilities to choose the right TV brand, model, and size based on certain conclusions.

Lancôme Génifique Eye Cream

«Let your eyes show your strength with NEW Advanced Génifique Eye Cream from Lancôme, now with Microbiome science. Reveal youthful, brighter eyes in just 7 days and reduce the appearance of dark eye circles and wrinkles around eye contour by 8 weeks.

The Fallacy – Questionable Cause

“Questionable Cause “(non causa pro causa) is also a rather gross mistake in advertising. It is a false statement in which specific facts are indicated incorrectly but represent common sense. Deliberately false advertising misleads consumers, informing them about the unreliability of the characteristics of goods and services, performers, and sellers. “Beautiful and strong” advertising beliefs without supporting any powerful arguments force people to take a particular position. The authors of insinuating words are hiding not specialists and professionals in a particular field but marketers and psychologists who mask speech and present it to manipulate people’s desires. Actually, people continue to believe in deliberately false advertising – miraculous teas and weight loss pills, instantly whitening tubes of toothpaste, and mascara that makes eyelashes grow like models.

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Distortion of facts leads to a wrong idea about the subject of discussion, whether exaggeration, understatement, inventing, or denying any of its aspects. The emphasis is placed explicitly on the characteristics of the information itself and not on the form of reasoning or representation. In this case, the manipulations concern precisely what kind of information is being presented. Thus, we are not talking about a specific type of questionable information but various distortions about the data as a whole.

Explanation

Lancôme is one of the leaders in the production of perfumes and various cosmetics. They promote their new cream with a more updated composition in the advertisement and convince young girls and women about its positive impact. It is assumed that after seven days, the skin around the eyes will become elastic, radiant, and moisturized, and dark circles will disappear after eight weeks. Using this cream for about $68.00, the skin around the eyes will acquire an instantly visible effect and become noticeably younger and tighter. In this situation, if women face the truth, they will make some critical comments about advertising. There is no doubt that specialists tested the cream before it was released for sale, and for sure, it nourishes and moisturizes the skin well. The fact that the cream completely removes all skin imperfections after a couple of days and weeks is a strong enough statement that requires clear arguments. However, if everything were like this, several people would not go under the knife to surgeons and do various “beauty injections.”

Besides, the famous American actress, model, and writer Lily Collins appears in the advertisement from Lancôme. Actually, the appearance of celebrities in advertising creates an opportunity to attract the audience’s attention to the product with the help of a celebrity to play on the popularity of the “star.” Advertising seems to hint that stars use their products, which is already a “reasonably argument.”

Moreover, Lancôme also claims that the cream contains a new, updated formula – Microbiome science. The official website also says that the new cream includes hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and a complex of active ingredients for eye contour. Thus, customers may incorrectly assume that the business uses these ingredients to make “fine wrinkles” disappear once and for all, and the skin is transformed for the better. In fairness, it is not profitable for companies to take such measures. If this cream starts to help and can restore the youth of customers’ skin, it is logical to assume that they will no longer buy the cream, and therefore sales will fall significantly.

Finishing Touch Flawless

«When you need to look ‘close-up flawless’, but want to keep your touch-up routine discreet, the Finishing Touch Flawless range make the perfect purse companions. Even Hollywood superstar Halle Berry knows she can trust the 18 Karat gold-plating, German engineering and discreet design to keep her looking immaculate, smooth and ready to be snapped no matter where she is (JML Direct, 2021).»

The Fallacy – Appeal To Authority

“Appeal to authority“ (Ad Populum) is one of the most famous, common logical fallacies and the oldest brand communication tool, which always remains in trend. This is the declaration of a statement as true or false on the basis that some authoritative person considers it as such. A well-known character immediately attracts attention, leads the consumer to contact the advertising media, and after that, the audience gets acquainted with the ad’s content. The consumer projects the needs with the requirements of the star depicted in the advertisement since a well-known personality is a cult and reference person. He or she thinks that “if an idol values a product highly, I will use it to become the same as him.” That is, the brand merges with the personality through which it positions itself. Every well-known brand uses stars in one way or another to promote its products. However, often small companies do not neglect to “break off a piece” from a “star.”

Explanation

“Flawless” is a very young company that has entered the market of cosmetic devices. Attracting the media personality and even the world “star,” the advertisers hope that her fans will transfer their trust and love for the artist to the brand. The fallacy of such an argument follows from the fact that even authoritative people can make mistakes, and therefore their opinion is not the ultimate truth. The actress’s opinion may be biased, and her words may be distorted for specific purposes, such as making good sales of a product in advertising.

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Indeed, Halle Berry attracts looks and causes admiration; her appearance in advertising care products looks entirely organic. Even though Berry is not only a talented actress but also a beautiful, well-groomed woman, she is not an expert in this “specific” field. The woman is not an expert in technologies and innovations presented in the company’s products, like “German engineering” and “Karat gold-plating.” “Flawless” claims that if the celebrity uses precisely the brand’s devices, then every woman should use them accordingly. In addition, product manufacturers claim that a beautiful image, like a Hollywood star, can be achieved only with technologies from Finishing Touch Flawless. Many other brands are engaged in developing and selling similar products, which supply products that also help look “without flaws.”

References

JML Direct. (2021).Milled. Web.

Lancôme Singapore. (2021). [Video]. Web.

Tv Palace. (2021). Bring your favourite tv shows and movies to life with the real 8k viewing experience of neo qled 8k [Images attached] [Status update]. Facebook. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'Logical Fallacies in Advertising'. 18 March.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Logical Fallacies in Advertising." March 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/logical-fallacies-in-advertising/.

1. IvyPanda. "Logical Fallacies in Advertising." March 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/logical-fallacies-in-advertising/.


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IvyPanda. "Logical Fallacies in Advertising." March 18, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/logical-fallacies-in-advertising/.

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