Learn what special pleading is, how to identify and avoid this logical fallacy, and why it matters for rational discourse. Rephrasely also offers a paraphrase tool and a paragraph generator to help you with your writing.
Special pleading is when one makes up an exception or moves the goal posts when one’s claim is shown to be false. Learn how this fallacy is committed in arguments about the universe, enemies, and more.
Special Pleading is a logical fallacy that involves applying different standards to others and oneself without justification. Learn how to identify, avoid, and challenge this fallacy with real world examples and strategies.
The special pleading fallacy occurs when someone gives certain conditions and that individual claims a special exception to that condition without proper justification. “Because I said so” is a popular retort among parents. But just because it’s popular does make it less of a logical fallacy. “Saying so”–in and of itself–does not ...
Special Pleading. Taxonomy: Logical Fallacy > Informal Fallacy > Special Pleading 1 Form: Rule: Xs are generally Ys. x is an X. x is an exception to the rule because it is I (where I is an irrelevant characteristic). Therefore, x is not a Y. Example: The law requires everyone to follow the speed limit and other traffic regulations, but in Suffolk County, exceptions should be made for cops and ...
Special pleading is when someone claims an exemption or special consideration for their argument without justifying it. It is often used by alternative medicine and other pseudoscientific fields to avoid scientific evidence and criticism.
This fallacy is easy to spot on others but hard to spot on yourself. If you are accused of special pleading, don’t dismiss it out of hand. Take the time to reconsider your argument and whether or not the accusation is warranted. Remember that the key is whether or not the “relevant difference” justifies the “special treatment.”
Learn what the Special Pleading fallacy is and how to spot it in arguments. Watch an example of someone applying a rule to others but not to themselves, and see why this is problematic.
Special pleading (or claiming that something is an overwhelming exception) is a logical fallacy asking for an exception to a rule to be applied to a specific case, without proper justification of why that case deserves an exemption. Usually this is because in order for an argument to work, a proponent needs to provide some way to get out of a logical inconsistency — in a lot of cases, this ...
Ok, on to our New Fallacy of the day, which is special pleading. Special Pleading is when someone tries to claim to be an exception to the rule that they expect to be applied to everyone else. Special Pleading is actually a form of Red Herring b/c when someone calls for an unjustified exception to a rule or an argument, they’re avoiding the ...
Learn how to identify and avoid the fallacy of special pleading, when an advocate claims to have a special insight or superior sensitivity that cannot be challenged. See examples of special pleading in newspaper articles, political speeches and art criticism.
This chapter focuses on one of the common fallacies in Western philosophy called 'special pleading (SP)'. One way to grasp the meaning of the special pleading fallacy is to focus on a general principle of fairness: We ought to treat individuals alike unless there is some relevant difference between them that merits the differential treatment.
Another form of special pleading is to demand unequal evidence for something. For example, Kathy believes that pixies exist despite the fact that she's never seen one, ... One thing that is not this fallacy is people having different standards for who can treat them how. For example, if Lacy is fine with her husband calling her "sugarbear," it ...
Understanding the Special Pleading Fallacy: A Guide to Classical Rhetoric and Logical Argumentation. In the realm of logic and rhetoric, navigating through the myriad of fallacies is essential for developing sound arguments and critical thinking skills. One such fallacy is special pleading, which can distort the truth and lead audiences astray ...
Toggle Mechanics of Special Pleading subsection. ... 2.2 Non-Fallacious Exceptions. 2.3 Hallmarks of Special Pleading. 3 Why Special Pleading is Intellectually Dishonest. 4 Avoiding Special Pleading. 5 Recognizing and Countering Special Pleading. 6 Conclusion. 7 References.
Defining Special Pleading Special pleading (also known as a double standard) is an informal fallacy that occurs when an exception is created to a principle, law, rule, generalization, or something roughly similar to these when we would expect that principle (or whatever it may be) to apply to whatever is being excluded and no rational justification is given for why the exclusion is created.
Abstract This chapter focuses on one of the common fallacies in Western philosophy called 'special pleading (SP)'. One way to grasp the meaning of the special pleading fallacy is to focus on a general principle of fairness: We ought to treat individuals alike unless there is some relevant difference between them that merits the differential treatment.
Description of Special Pleading. Special Pleading is a fallacy in which a person applies standards, principles, rules, etc. to others while taking herself (or those she has a special interest in) to be exempt, without providing adequate justification for the exemption. This sort of "reasoning" has the following form:
