Ignoratio elenchi (also known as irrelevant conclusion) is the logical fallacy of presenting an argument that may in itself be valid, but which proves or supports a different proposition than the one it is purporting to prove or support. "Ignoratio elenchi" can be roughly translated by ignorance of the issue; "elenchi" is from the Greek έλεγχος, meaning an argument of disproof or refutation.

Aristotle believed that an ignoratio elenchi is a mistake made by a questioner while attempting to refute a respondent's argument. He called it an ignorance of what makes for a refutation.

Red herrings

---

When this logical fallacy is used in an attempt to intentionally confuse or distract someone else, it is known as a red herring. This phrase is thought to have originated from the use of smoked herring fish to distract dogs following a scent trail. The herring's strong smell could obscure the real trail and lay a false one.

A satirical type of red herring is the "Chewbacca Defense". This term is sometimes used in Internet discussion forums.

Examples

---

• Baseball player Mark McGwire just retired. Clearly, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. After all, he's such a nice guy, and he gives a lot of money to all sorts of charities. (Friendliness and charity are not qualifications for induction into the Hall of Fame, therefore they do not support the conclusion.)
• The premier's tax policies may be popular, but I suspect he had an affair and is paying the woman to keep quiet. The media should investigate that! (This is an example of a red herring, as the speaker attempts to distract from tax policy with the unrelated matter of the alleged affair.)

See also

---

• Enthymeme
• Chewbacca Defense

External links

---

• About.com: Fallacies of relevance
• Nizkor Project: Red Herring
• Fallacy Files: Red Herring
• The Art of Controversy: Diversion (bilingual with the original German) by Arthur Schopenhauer
• Red herring in political speech

Informal fallacies | Metaphors | Relevance fallacies

Ignoratio elenchi | Red Herring | Ignoratio elenchi | Ignoratio elenchi | איגנורטיו אלנכי | Raudona silkė | Ignoratio elenchi | Avledningsmanøver | Red herring | Ignoratio elenchi | Ignoratio elenchi | 紅鯡魚