No true Scotsman: Difference between revisions
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A cited example of a political application of the fallacy was asserting that "[[Democratic peace theory|no democracy starts a war]]", then distinguishing between mature or "true" democracies, which never start wars, and "emerging democracies", which may start them.<ref>[[David P. Goldman|Spengler]]. [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HA31Ak01.html "No true Scotsman starts a war"], ''[[Asia Times Online]]'', Jan 31, 2006</ref> |
A cited example of a political application of the fallacy was asserting that "[[Democratic peace theory|no democracy starts a war]]", then distinguishing between mature or "true" democracies, which never start wars, and "emerging democracies", which may start them.<ref>[[David P. Goldman|Spengler]]. [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HA31Ak01.html "No true Scotsman starts a war"], ''[[Asia Times Online]]'', Jan 31, 2006</ref> |
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Recently, Denver radio host Dan Caplis, when discussing racism, asserted that, “You cannot believe in God and be a racist because, if you believe in God, then you cannot possibly believe that God made somebody inferior just because of the color of their skin.”<ref>Gettys, Travis. [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/29/denver-radio-host-on-donald-sterling-all-racists-are-at-the-end-of-the-day-atheists/ "Denver radio host on Donald Sterling: ‘All racists are, at the end of the day, atheists’"] </ref> |
Recently, Denver radio host Dan Caplis, when discussing racism, asserted that all racists must be atheists, because, “You cannot believe in God and be a racist because, if you believe in God, then you cannot possibly believe that God made somebody inferior just because of the color of their skin.”<ref>Gettys, Travis. [http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/29/denver-radio-host-on-donald-sterling-all-racists-are-at-the-end-of-the-day-atheists/ "Denver radio host on Donald Sterling: ‘All racists are, at the end of the day, atheists’"] </ref> |
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==Origin== |
==Origin== |
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Revision as of 21:33, 29 April 2014
No true Scotsman is an informal fallacy, an ad hoc attempt to retain an unreasoned assertion.[1] When faced with a counterexample to a universal claim ("no Scotsman would do such a thing"), rather than denying the counterexample or rejecting the original universal claim, this fallacy modifies the subject of the assertion to exclude the specific case or others like it by rhetoric, without reference to any specific objective rule ("no true Scotsman would do such a thing").[2] It can also be used to create unnecessary requirements.
Examples
A simple rendition of the fallacy:[3]
- Person A: "No Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge."
- Person B: "I am Scottish, and I put sugar on my porridge."
- Person A: "Well, no true Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge."
A cited example of a political application of the fallacy was asserting that "no democracy starts a war", then distinguishing between mature or "true" democracies, which never start wars, and "emerging democracies", which may start them.[4]
Recently, Denver radio host Dan Caplis, when discussing racism, asserted that all racists must be atheists, because, “You cannot believe in God and be a racist because, if you believe in God, then you cannot possibly believe that God made somebody inferior just because of the color of their skin.”[5]
Origin
The use of the term was advanced by British philosopher Antony Flew:
Imagine Hamish McDonald, a Scotsman, sitting down with his Glasgow Morning Herald and seeing an article about how the "Brighton [(England)] Sex Maniac Strikes Again". Hamish is shocked and declares that "No Scotsman would do such a thing". The next day he sits down to read his Glasgow Morning Herald again; and, this time, finds an article about an Aberdeen [(Scotland)] man whose brutal actions make the Brighton sex maniac seem almost gentlemanly. This fact shows that Hamish was wrong in his opinion but is he going to admit this? Not likely. This time he says, "No true Scotsman would do such a thing".[6][7]
See also
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References
- ^ No True Scotsman, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- ^ Flew, Antony (1975), Thinking About Thinking: Do I Sincerely Want to Be Right?, London: Collins Fontana, ISBN 978-0-00-633580-1
- ^ Pinker, Steven (2003). How the Mind Works. Hukilau.
- ^ Spengler. "No true Scotsman starts a war", Asia Times Online, Jan 31, 2006
- ^ Gettys, Travis. "Denver radio host on Donald Sterling: ‘All racists are, at the end of the day, atheists’"
- ^ Flew, Antony (1975), Thinking About Thinking: Do I Sincerely Want to Be Right?, London: Collins Fontana, ISBN 978-0-00-633580-1
- ^ "Obituary: Professor Antony Flew", The Scotsman, 16 April 2010
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