Ad Hominem

This fallacy attacks to person's character or something personal instead of addressing his or her argument.

The "No True Scotsman" fallacy is a type of informal logical fallacy that occurs when someone attempts to protect a universal generalization or assertion from counterexamples by modifying the original claim in an ad hoc manner. This modification typically involves disqualifying or excluding specific counterexamples by asserting that they don't represent the "true" or "real" members of the group in question. In essence, it's a way to shift the goalposts to avoid admitting that the initial claim was too broad or incorrect.

Here's a breakdown of the fallacy and some examples:

• Original Claim: A general statement is made about a group of people, often involving an ideal or stereotype. For example:

  • "All Scotsmen are honest people."

• Counterexample: Someone provides a counterexample that contradicts the original claim. For instance:

  • "But I know a Scotsman who is not honest."

• No True Scotsman Fallacy: Instead of acknowledging the counterexample, the person committing the fallacy modifies the original claim by saying something like:

  • "Well, no true Scotsman would ever be dishonest. The person you're talking about isn't a real Scotsman."

In this case, the person committing the fallacy is changing the definition of a "true Scotsman" to fit their argument. This move is problematic because it avoids addressing the counterexample directly and unfairly dismisses it.

More Examples:

• Original Claim: "All football fans are passionate about the sport."

  • Counterexample: "I know a football fan who doesn't care about the game at all."

  • Fallacy: "Well, no true football fan would ever be indifferent. That person isn't a real fan."

• Original Claim: "All scientists are objective and unbiased."

  • Counterexample: "I've seen a scientist who clearly let personal biases affect their research."

  • Fallacy: "True scientists would always remain objective. The person you mentioned isn't a true scientist."

• Original Claim: "All vegans are compassionate toward animals."

  • Counterexample: "I know a vegan who doesn't really care about animal welfare."

  • Fallacy: "No true vegan would ever be apathetic about animals. That person isn't a real vegan."

The "No True Scotsman" fallacy can be a subtle and misleading way to defend a position by redefining terms or criteria. It's important to recognize and avoid this fallacy in debates and discussions to ensure that counterexamples and diverse viewpoints are properly considered.