Law of Spectral Logical Fallacies

The principle that logical fallacies exist on a spectrum between absolute and relative, with infinite gradations and multiple dimensions. Under this law, a claim isn't simply fallacious or not fallacious—it's fallacious to some degree, in some contexts, under some interpretations, for some purposes. The law of spectral fallacies recognizes that what counts as a fallacy depends on standards of reasoning that themselves vary across domains, cultures, and purposes. An argument that's clearly fallacious in a philosophy seminar might be perfectly acceptable in a political speech; a move that's invalid in formal logic might be persuasive in everyday conversation. The spectral view allows for nuanced evaluation rather than binary dismissal.

Law of Spectral Logical Fallacies Example: "She analyzed his argument using spectral fallacies, mapping it across dimensions: formal logical fallacies (present but weak), rhetorical effectiveness (high), contextual appropriateness (depends on audience), cultural reasoning norms (acceptable in his tradition). The spectral coordinates explained why some listeners were convinced and others were appalled. She stopped calling it simply fallacious and started understanding its complex effects."

by Abzugal February 16, 2026

Law of the Spectral Fallacies

The principle that fallacies exist on a spectrum between absolute and relative, with infinite gradations and multiple dimensions. Under this law, no fallacy is purely absolute or purely relative—each occupies a position in spectral space defined by its universality, its context-dependence, its severity, its typical effects. The ad hominem fallacy is near the relative end (sometimes valid, depending on relevance); formal fallacies like affirming the consequent are nearer the absolute end (almost always errors); most fallacies are somewhere in between. The law of the spectral fallacies recognizes that fallacy evaluation is not binary but continuous, that what counts as fallacious varies across contexts, and that the question isn't "is it a fallacy?" but "where on the spectrum of fallaciousness does this argument fall?"

Law of the Spectral Fallacies Example: "She analyzed his argument using spectral fallacies, mapping it across dimensions: formal validity (low), contextual appropriateness (medium), persuasive effect (high), potential for harm (low). The spectral coordinates showed why some listeners cried fallacy while others found it compelling. The argument wasn't simply fallacious or not; it was fallacious in some dimensions, effective in others. The spectrum captured what binaries missed."

by Dumu The Void February 17, 2026