Evaluation of Example 15: Stossel on Climate Change
Passage:
“The recent hype about global warming comes from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. Most of its members are serious scientists. But
reporters don't realize that those scientists, like bird flu specialists, have
every incentive to hype the risk. If their computer models (which so far have
been wrong) predict disaster, they get attention and money. If they say, ‘I'm
not sure,’ they get nothing.”
John Stossel, “Earth Daze,” Index-Journal
95 no. 331 (April 14, 2014), 9A.
Analsyis:
Ad hominem circumstantial fallacy occurs since
Mr. Stossel ignores the empirical issues relating to global warming to claim
that conclusions of the scientists on the Intergovermental Panel are not so
much empirically based as they are based upon securing personal recognition
and government funding for their work.
IPCC scientists warn about dangers of climate change.
The motivation of the IPCC scientists is for recognition and funding.
The findings of the IPCC scientists are suspect.