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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 10, 2012 at 4:37 pm
(December 10, 2012 at 3:32 pm)John V Wrote: The classic example of the appeal to hypocrisy is:
A: I have evidence that smoking is bad for your health.
B: But I have evidence that you smoke yourself.
In this case, B’s argument is fallacious. That A smokes has no bearing on his evidence, which should be considered on its own merits.
Is it fallacious? I would say it depends on environment. I think 'B's argument has a bearing in normal exchange on a forum. How many people on any forum use exact terminology? It is most common that posters are using statements to represent their arguments. So 'A' will make a statement as part of an anti smoking agenda. As such 'B's statement that 'A' smokes, shows simply although Smoking is bad for health, even 'A' has to admit there are other factors at work.
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 5:05 pm
(This post was last modified: December 11, 2012 at 5:07 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(December 10, 2012 at 4:28 pm)John V Wrote: If B is not making a claim regarding the bolded part because he believes it's unprovable opinion, then no appeal to hypocrisy fallacy has been committed.
The appeal to hypocrisy is when B -in our example- answers A's claim with "you too". So yes, in both examples the fallacy "has been committed". It doesn't matter whether or not B holds a position that he feels is "unprovable". It's all bout how B responds to A.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 5:36 pm
(December 10, 2012 at 4:02 pm)Kousbroek Wrote:
Awesome.
I finally have a republican to blame for becoming addicted to his tasty cigarettes.
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Well, if it's good enough for the Flintstones:
By the way, I've never smoked in my life, nor do I intend to. Does that make me a hypocrite? (Rhetorical)
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 10:01 pm
OMG, that's wrong on so many different levels.
...even more wrong than my new avatar.
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 10:05 pm
(December 11, 2012 at 10:01 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: OMG, that's wrong on so many different levels.
...even more wrong than my new avatar.
I think you look fabulous.
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 10:08 pm
(December 11, 2012 at 10:05 pm)Annik Wrote: (December 11, 2012 at 10:01 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: OMG, that's wrong on so many different levels.
...even more wrong than my new avatar.
I think you look fabulous.
Don't I?
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 10:08 pm
(December 11, 2012 at 10:01 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: OMG, that's wrong on so many different levels.
...even more wrong than my new avatar.
Dude, your new avatar is much more dangerous. If I quit smoking tomorrow, my lungs start to heal. Teletubbies leave ireparable brain scars.
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 11, 2012 at 10:10 pm
(December 11, 2012 at 10:08 pm)cato123 Wrote: (December 11, 2012 at 10:01 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: OMG, that's wrong on so many different levels.
...even more wrong than my new avatar.
Dude, your new avatar is much more dangerous. If I quit smoking tomorrow, my lungs start to heal. Teletubbies leave ireparable brain scars.
You've got a point. I think I'll keep it.
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RE: Appeal to hypocrisy
December 12, 2012 at 9:32 am
(December 11, 2012 at 5:05 pm)Rhythm Wrote: The appeal to hypocrisy is when B -in our example- answers A's claim with "you too". So yes, in both examples the fallacy "has been committed". It doesn't matter whether or not B holds a position that he feels is "unprovable". It's all bout how B responds to A. Since A, in the second case, based his position on his own behavior, it was completely legitimate for B to use A's behavior in his response.
A opened the door for that line of debate.
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