Special Pleading: When Exceptions to the Rule are Unfounded [#FallacyFridays]
Welcome to #FallacyFridays! Friday is the day for learning about flaws in our logic and the kinds of arguments we should avoid making. But no matter which day you see this, it’s never a bad idea to better our critical thinking skills. Today logical fallacy is one where our bias can truly shine (and that is something we should, obviously, avoid 😬). It’s called special pleading. Read to the end so you can take the quiz to test your understanding of the fallacy.
But before we get started, I want you to know about a tool that may help you understand this and other fallacies. I know that some people learn better by writing or typing. If that is you, download this FREE digital copy of “#FallacyFridays: The Workbook.” It was designed to follow alongside #FallacyFridays lessons in order for you to better understand logical fallacies.
What is the Special Pleading Fallacy?
Many of us have had moments when our parents made rules we didn’t like. Maybe the rule was something like, “No TV after 8pm.” As a youngin, you may have thought your parents were out to suck the fun out of your life. So perhaps you went to bed defeated. Not staying up to watch TV like you would have much preferred.
About in hour into bedtime, you get up to use the restroom. And to your shock and horror, you see the unimaginable.
Mom is up watching TV. 😱
And when you ask, “You said ‘No TV after 8pm.’ How come you watch TV but I can’t,” she responds with “because I said so.”
As much respect as you have for your mother, it’s gotta be said that her response perfectly explains how the special pleading fallacy works.
The special pleading fallacy occurs when someone gives certain conditions and that individual claims a special exception to that condition without proper justification.
“Because I said so” is a popular retort among parents. But just because it’s popular does make it less of a logical fallacy. “Saying so”–in and of itself–does not give us anything to work with. But saying that a growing child needs more sleep than the adult and the adult knows they will be alert at work anyway gives much more to work with. The latter, more logical justification may not appeal as much though. That I can see.
(Btw, if you are a kid or teen reading this and you plan on using my article to argue with your parents against their “because I said so” statement, please keep in mind that I am not responsible for how they respond, mkay? 🤨)
The special pleading fallacy occurs when you cite an exception to a condition you have given without proper justification. Click To TweetAnother example of special pleading
Let’s say you decide to go to doctor’s office to get some answers (and possible treatment) concerning the symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Prior to going to this doctor, your friend suggested that you go to an alternative medicine practitioner who only uses natural products to heal, a method that he boasts as reliable and effective.
However, it didn’t work for you.
Then, the alternative medicine practitioner says that it didn’t work because you were skeptical about it. That it only works if you trust in the “natural healing methods.” And of course, there is no evidence that shows that this is true.
This is an example of special pleading because the reason for you being the exception to the “it works” rule was not adequately justified.
If someone is "shifting the goalposts" in their argument, chances are that they are committing the special pleading fallacy. Click To TweetQuiz time!
Now that you’ve learned what the special pleading fallacy is, here’s a quiz to test your understanding. Which one of the following answer choices contains the special pleading fallacy?
A. If you actually read the directions shown at the top of your worksheet, you probably would have gotten the question correct.
B. I know I say “first come, first serve,” but as a doctor, I also have to triage my patients. There is a patient who recently had a heart attack and is in critical condition. I will have to help her first before I get to your swollen wound even though you arrived at our clinic before she did.
C. I know I say that there should always be evidence for claims made about politicians. But, this time around, you’re just going to have to trust that what I’m saying about Bernie is true.
D. I love ice cream so long as it’s not from Mooster’s Ice Cream shop. It’s disgusting.
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