Noun: fail-acy
An attempt to characterize an argument as a fallacy that is itself a fallacy. That is, a failed fallacy.
An attempt to characterize an argument as a fallacy that is itself a fallacy. That is, a failed fallacy.
A comment on a Guardian article about Ayn Rand says simply:
"And Ayn Rand was the ultimate hypocrite, relying on the state that she so despised to look after her in her final years."
A reply to that comment claims:
"This is the Ad Hominem Tu Quoque fallacy. This fallacy is committed when it is concluded that a person's claim is false because
1) it is inconsistent with something else a person has said, or
2) what a person says is inconsistent with her actions."
However, the original commenter never claimed Ayn Rand's claims were invalid, merely that she was a hypocrite. Therefore the claims that this is an "Ad Hominem Tu Quoque" fallacy is a failacy in itself. At best the original argument is a simple ad hominem fallacy, an attack against her person vs the argument. At worst it is a simple statement of fact and therefore the "Tu Quoque" claim is a Straw Man fallacy - an attack against a mischaracterization of the opponent's argument.
"And Ayn Rand was the ultimate hypocrite, relying on the state that she so despised to look after her in her final years."
A reply to that comment claims:
"This is the Ad Hominem Tu Quoque fallacy. This fallacy is committed when it is concluded that a person's claim is false because
1) it is inconsistent with something else a person has said, or
2) what a person says is inconsistent with her actions."
However, the original commenter never claimed Ayn Rand's claims were invalid, merely that she was a hypocrite. Therefore the claims that this is an "Ad Hominem Tu Quoque" fallacy is a failacy in itself. At best the original argument is a simple ad hominem fallacy, an attack against her person vs the argument. At worst it is a simple statement of fact and therefore the "Tu Quoque" claim is a Straw Man fallacy - an attack against a mischaracterization of the opponent's argument.
by Moschops April 17, 2017
Get the failacy mug.\ ˈflȯi-dē-ən ˈfa-lə-sē \ (noun)
The erroneous belief that a single video of police brutality proves systemic racism.
The erroneous belief that a single video of police brutality proves systemic racism.
Angry Anjem: "The George Floyd video PROVES Amerikkka is racist!"
Rational Raheem: "Everyone agrees it was appalling. But remember in 2019 the police shot 9 unarmed blacks as well as 19 unarmed whites."
Floydian Fallacy
Rational Raheem: "Everyone agrees it was appalling. But remember in 2019 the police shot 9 unarmed blacks as well as 19 unarmed whites."
Floydian Fallacy
by Green Gordon June 23, 2020
Get the Floydian Fallacy mug.The assumption that because very few members of a group are powerful, therefore the rest of them must necessarily share that power too.
Example 1:
Jane: The top paid athletes in the USA are African-American, therefore all African-Americans athletes are richer than athletes of other racial backgrounds.
Joe: No, that's the Apex Fallacy: you are resourcing to the top outliers to make general assumptions regarding the specified population, that is, African-American athletes.
Example 2:
Jane: Men are 93% of the top 500 richest CEOs, therefore it is obvious that men in general are privileged.
Joe: No, that's the Apex Fallacy. Men are the majority of the unemployed and the homeless are nearly 80% male too. You can't derive conclusions regarding the whole based either on the top or lower outliers, but when you resource to the top outliers, you end up committing the Apex Fallacy. It would be wrong to infer that men are necessarily underprivileged because they are the majority of the poorer 1% too, that would be the Bottom Fallacy.
Jane: The top paid athletes in the USA are African-American, therefore all African-Americans athletes are richer than athletes of other racial backgrounds.
Joe: No, that's the Apex Fallacy: you are resourcing to the top outliers to make general assumptions regarding the specified population, that is, African-American athletes.
Example 2:
Jane: Men are 93% of the top 500 richest CEOs, therefore it is obvious that men in general are privileged.
Joe: No, that's the Apex Fallacy. Men are the majority of the unemployed and the homeless are nearly 80% male too. You can't derive conclusions regarding the whole based either on the top or lower outliers, but when you resource to the top outliers, you end up committing the Apex Fallacy. It would be wrong to infer that men are necessarily underprivileged because they are the majority of the poorer 1% too, that would be the Bottom Fallacy.
by Papadopoulos December 12, 2014
Get the Apex Fallacy mug.This is a logical fallacy that assumes properties of the most visible members of a group are held by all members of the group.
The most powerful people in the World are men, hence all men are powerful. This is an Apex fallacy, not all men are powerful.
The World's best long distance runners come from Africa, hence all Africans are good long distance runners. This is an Apex fallacy, not all Africans are good long distance runners.
The World's best long distance runners come from Africa, hence all Africans are good long distance runners. This is an Apex fallacy, not all Africans are good long distance runners.
by Zorram April 16, 2013
Get the Apex Fallacy mug.The Current Year Fallacy refers to any argument of flawed logic (also known as a fallacy) that attempts to use ‘the current year’ as a reason to push any given political, or social, reform.
‘Come on, it’s 2015!’-John Oliver (An example by prominent talk show host John Oliver using the Current Year Fallacy)
by shane_the_killer May 6, 2018
Get the Current Year Fallacy mug.A vegan realised that he/she consumed a non-vegan product by failing to check the ingredients label, therefore falling prey to "Vegans Assumption Fallacy".
by Vegan1116 January 13, 2023
Get the Vegans Assumption Fallacy mug.Eating massive servings of foods which are low-fat, low-sodium or low-cholesterol under the mistaken impression that you are making a healthy choice. Instigated initially in the late 1990s with the Snackwell line of low-fat cookies.
I just ate an entire pallet of reduced sodium Lays potato chips. So you know, my diet is still unbroken.
You just got chumped by the Snackwell Fallacy, dumb ass.
You just got chumped by the Snackwell Fallacy, dumb ass.
by Robot Loves Zombie April 12, 2010
Get the Snackwell Fallacy mug.