Yesterday, I published a video examining the fallacy in arguing that mask wearing violates people’s freedom. Claiming we don’t have to wear masks focuses on individual rights while ignoring our responsibilities. Being a member of a free society means respecting the right of others. Our freedom to behave however we want *should* be limited if that behavior endangers the health of others.
To illustrate the fallacy, I use an analogy. Arguing that having to wear a mask violates your freedom is like arguing that stopping you from drinking and driving is a violation of your civil liberties. Of course that’s nonsense. The law is there to prevent you from endangering others, violating their right to a healthy life.
The above image is adapted from the cartoon used in the video. Parallel argumentation is a powerful and accessible way to expose the flawed logic in misinformation: transplant the flawed logic into an analogous situation. Another cartoon from yesterday’s video uses another analogy – how smoking infringes on others’ right to healthy air.
Update 26 June: The drunk driver cartoon has been translated into German by Baerbel Winkler (that was quick!)
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