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more accurate introduction; examples; what it isn't
''' Special pleading''' is a [[Logical fallacy|fallacy]] of informal [[logic]] whereby a party to a controversy exempts himself (or one whom he has a special interest in protecting) from a criticism that he applies to others.
''' Special pleading''' is a [[Logical fallacy|fallacy]] of informal [[logic]] whereby a party to a controversy exempts himself (or one whom he has a special interest in protecting) from a criticism that he applies to others, without adequate justification for that exemption.
== Argument structure ==
== Argument structure ==
=== Ignoring Unfavorable Evidence ===
=== Ignoring Unfavorable Evidence ===
The other form of special pleading involves simply ignoring evidence unfavorable to one's position.<ref name=Heritage>The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed., [http://www.bartleby.com/61/43/S0614300.html Definition of special pleading] (retrieved April 9, 2007)</ref> One engaged in this form of special pleading concentrates only on one aspect of an issue, or a subset of aspects favorable to the person making the claim. Falsification of evidence is not involved here, but ''dissemblance'' might be.
The other form of special pleading involves simply ignoring evidence unfavorable to one's position.<ref name=Heritage>The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed., [http://www.bartleby.com/61/43/S0614300.html Definition of special pleading] (retrieved April 9, 2007)</ref> One engaged in this form of special pleading concentrates only on one aspect of an issue, or a subset of aspects favorable to the person making the claim. Falsification of evidence is not involved here, but ''dissemblance'' might be.
== Examples ==
*An adherent of a non-[[Christian]] religion might criticize Christianity on the basis of alleged difficulties in the [[Bible]], while explaining away difficulties of at least the same level in his own religion's holy book by saying that his own holy book needs to be "interpreted correctly." Absent adequate justification for applying different rules of interpretation to the two texts, that person engages in special pleading.
*An [[atheist]] might argue that a Creator needs a Creator, who needs a Creator, [[infinite regression|and so on]], whereas the universe can simply exist. Absent an adequate reason why the universe can simply exist, while [[God]] cannot, he engages in special pleading.
== What Special Pleading Is Not ==
It is possible to hold different people to different standards without engaging in special pleading if a relevant difference allows it.<ref name=Nizkor/> For example, it is not necessarily special pleading to exempt a child from standards applied to adults.
== Related Concept ==
== Related Concept ==