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Atheism and logical fallacies (view source)
Revision as of 14:40, June 13, 2015
, 14:40, June 13, 2015→Atheism and the no true Scotsman fallacy
See also: [[Atheism and the no true Scotsman fallacy]] and [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]
See also: [[Atheism and the no true Scotsman fallacy]] and [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]
The [[no true Scotsman]] fallacy is a [[logical fallacy]] and more specifically a special case of [[circular logic]]. It involves dismissing any counterexamples.
The [[no true Scotsman]] fallacy is a [[logical fallacy]] and more specifically a special case of [[circular logic]]. It involves dismissing any counterexamples.<ref>[http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/#NoTrueScotsman No True Scotsman Fallacy], ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy''</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zzSqL--d_I The "No True Scotsman" Fallacy], Idea Channel - PBS Digital Studios</ref>
The ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' describes the no true Scotsman fallacy thusly:
{{cquote|No True Scotsman
This error is a kind of [[ad hoc rescue]] of one's generalization in which the reasoner re-characterizes the situation solely in order to escape refutation of the generalization.
Example:
Smith: All Scotsmen are loyal and brave.
Jones: But McDougal over there is a Scotsman, and he was arrested by his commanding officer for running from the enemy.
Smith: Well, if that's right, it just shows that McDougal wasn't a TRUE Scotsman.<ref>[http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/#NoTrueScotsman No True Scotsman Fallacy], ''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy''</ref>}}
The no true Scotsman Fallacy was coined by the English philosopher [[Anthony Flew]] in his book ''Thinking about Thinking - or do I sincerely want to be right?''. At the time Flew wrote the book he was an atheist, but he later became a [[theism|theist]].
=== Atheists claiming ex-atheists were never atheists ===
=== Atheists claiming ex-atheists were never atheists ===