I've learned a new logical fallacy.
Wikipedia Article on Ad Hoc Hypothesis
I used to mock these as "fudge factors" but now I've learned a more sophisticated term.
We see this a lot not just in apologetics but also in government conspiracy theories, UFO stories, astrology and new age woo. Cherished notions can be protected from contrary evidence by improvising new, though unlikely and unsubstantiated, claims. If you say, "well, maybe..." enough times, you can make anything fit.
As a cherished thought becomes overburdened by an ever-increasing number of unsupported, unproven, unlikely ad hoc hypotheses, occam's razor should be applied. Chances are good that when it looks like a duck it's because it is a duck.
Wikipedia Article on Ad Hoc Hypothesis
Quote:In science and philosophy, an ad hoc hypothesis is a hypothesis added to a theory in order to save it from being falsified. Ad hoc hypothesizing is compensating for anomalies not anticipated by the theory in its unmodified form.
I used to mock these as "fudge factors" but now I've learned a more sophisticated term.
We see this a lot not just in apologetics but also in government conspiracy theories, UFO stories, astrology and new age woo. Cherished notions can be protected from contrary evidence by improvising new, though unlikely and unsubstantiated, claims. If you say, "well, maybe..." enough times, you can make anything fit.
As a cherished thought becomes overburdened by an ever-increasing number of unsupported, unproven, unlikely ad hoc hypotheses, occam's razor should be applied. Chances are good that when it looks like a duck it's because it is a duck.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
