Questions tagged [debate]

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9 votes
11 answers
3k views

Is there a name for the widespread logical fallacy in which you prove your point by 'eliminating' anyone who contradicts you?

I've encountered this relentlessly in my life. You offer proof that someone is wrong, or even simply state something more obvious than the sun that they don't like, they ban you or do something else ...
4 votes
8 answers
3k views

What is the proper response in a debate when your opponent ignores your counterarguments?

I keep running into a situation in debates and arguments. My opponent makes an argument (or counterargument), and I carefully disprove all of my opponent's points. However, instead of addressing my ...
3 votes
5 answers
287 views

Is there a stalemate between Skeptical Theism and The Evidential Problem of Evil?

Skeptical Theism: Skeptical theism is the view that God exists but that we should be skeptical of our ability to discern God’s reasons for acting or refraining from acting in any particular instance. ...
6 votes
11 answers
5k views

What are valid rebuttals to utilitarianism?

From Britannica, utilitarianism is an ethics concept in which an action (or type of action) is right if it tends to promote happiness or pleasure and wrong if it tends to produce unhappiness or pain—...
16 votes
5 answers
5k views

Is there a name for the argumentative tactic where you play dumb and ask for extreme simplification?

My day job is research in economics. In economics seminar culture, a common way to demolish the speaker is to play dumb and say "I don't understand what you are saying", implying that the ...
3 votes
3 answers
111 views

Is this comparison committing a fallacy? [closed]

I am trying to build an argument against a friend: Me: "In your chess games against me, you never resign even when the conclusion is inevitable. I feel that this is a waste of time, and I object.&...
-4 votes
11 answers
454 views

Are there any positive arguments for atheism not rooted in self interest

I have watched many debates on the question of God's existence, and I have noticed that when the monotheist is asked to prove God's existence and they have arguments for God's existence and arguments ...
0 votes
4 answers
461 views

Is my analysis of Dawkins' fallacies correct?

I have been analyzing arguments made by prominent atheists and looking for logical fallacies. I am new at this. Are my analyses correct? From: “The All Time best arguments against religion/faith #2 (...
7 votes
5 answers
712 views

Can disputes over what is reasonable or unreasonable to believe be resolved objectively?

Suppose there are two debaters A and B, and a proposition X. A thinks X is reasonable, and believes X. B does not think X is reasonable, and therefore lacks a belief in X. Thus, A and B are in ...
-4 votes
2 answers
120 views

What is philosophical discourse? [closed]

Is philosophical discourse about the pursuit of wisdom? What principles are involved?
0 votes
2 answers
93 views

Is asking to align on definition during a debate a derailling or disingenuous demand?

In a recent discussion with a group of friends, we found ourselves in a situation where we appeared to be using the same word, but it became evident that we held different meanings for it. At that ...
14 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is this "going to the other extreme to make it look stupid to prove something"?

I don't know why I see this so often. When I say, it may not be good to sell 35 years of your life to the corporate world in a stressful way being golden handcuffed by a high salary or stock, somebody ...
10 votes
8 answers
3k views

Is one commiting the "argument from authority" fallacy and/or the "consensus fallacy" when one refers to a scientific consensus when asserting truth?

Bob and Alice disagree regarding subject X. Alice holds view A regarding subject X. Bob holds view B regarding subject X. View A and view B are quite contradictory views. Both can not be true at ...
0 votes
4 answers
1k views

Name of the argument fallacy when someone only attempts to refute one of your points?

I've never found out the name of this fallacy, or even if there is a name for it, but it seems to me it's the fallacy that occurs by far the most often. You are having a debate with someone and then ...
2 votes
1 answer
254 views

Is there a name for explaining or discussing a topic from various viewpoints/perspectives?

When someone explains or discusses a topic intermitently switching to various persperctives, which are previously defined and named. I've seen this often, e.g. in Shelly Kagan's course Death or ...
15 votes
9 answers
7k views

Is there a name for this fallacy when someone says something is good by only pointing out the good things?

A person says that a politician "Jane Doe" is good because he increased the education budget. (but in reality, Jane doe is also corrupt & racist, whose bad policies lead to the downfall ...
0 votes
4 answers
146 views

Argument over ethics

I had a class on ethics and morality in which we were discussing about free will and ethical subjectivism etc. One of my fellow classmates argued about how humans speak about being ethical but kill ...
0 votes
0 answers
58 views

Looking for an answer on a fallacy or debate tactic to discredit the other person

I am trying to find out what it is called when you disagree with a certain group on the status, tactics, view, etc so they call you exactly what they are against just to discredit your viewpoint. Even ...
2 votes
1 answer
230 views

How to avoid opponents assuming I'm comparing things when using examples?

When someone assert some statement in a debate, I often try to test the validity of the statement by using examples that apply to that statement. For instance, in some polemic theme, someone asserted &...
4 votes
4 answers
232 views

If I am unable to rebut a person's argument - am I obligated to accept it?

Suppose that I have an argument with a person, and s/he argues convincingly for his opinion. In case I cannot disprove his argument, would the intellectually honest thing to do be to accept it and its ...
0 votes
3 answers
227 views

Why are there "debates" amongst scientists?

We have sets of facts and assumptions. Then we have logical deduction. Why is there so much back and forth debate on certain topics? Shouldn't all scientists come up with the same conclusions, given ...
0 votes
3 answers
93 views

Is it possible to draw the line with "hasty generalization"?

At what point does a generalization become fallacious and hasty? If I say people who smoke get cancer and the data shows that 90% of smokers get cancer, is that still a hasty generalization? Or 60%? ...
0 votes
1 answer
945 views

Difference between non-sequitur fallacy and post hoc fallacy?

What is the difference between post hoc fallacy and non sequitur fallacy?
-1 votes
1 answer
61 views

Is there a term for someone restricting a discussion to a group of people?

Is there a term for when someone in a discussion dismisses or excludes a group of people? I think I've heard a term for "gating" the discussion but I can't find it. For example: "You ...
1 vote
2 answers
217 views

Checking the validity of the logical conclusion gleaned from a heated conversation

I have two friends - call them John and Jane. I was recently privy to an argument concerning a book between John and Jane that went like this: John: This book did not make a single coherent, ...
5 votes
3 answers
370 views

Which fallacy: Thinking everything someone does in a discussion that's wrong is a fallacy?

There are a lot of questions about which fallacy something is on this site. Many times, the argument in the question is not actually a fallacy, but something that the questioner doesn't like/agree ...
2 votes
4 answers
438 views

How do I reply to a conspiracy theorist that claims that the evidence is also part of the lie?

Person A: HIV is a disease created by the illuminati 2000 to eliminate 50% of the world population and in 2017 a scientist find a cure to HIV and the illuminati killed him Person B: that doesn't ...
0 votes
1 answer
170 views

I'm trying to identify a rhetorical device

I already asked this question on the writing forum, but I suppose the subject matter is better suited here. Once again, I am writing a commentary on the book of Galatians, while employing a socio-...
4 votes
3 answers
268 views

Presenting an example, then claiming the other person needs more information before using the same example - is either of us making a fallacy?

I recently had a conversation with someone in which they used an example to illustrate a point: "For example, if you tell me something [which isn't scientifically proven to be effective] works ...
1 vote
0 answers
82 views

Name of fallacious reasoning about the reality of abstractions

There is a kind of reasoning that is often heard, where the irreality of some abstraction is inferred from the fact that entities that fall under it are not perfectly homogenous. (1) A lot of times ...
1 vote
1 answer
72 views

Debating: Opponent asking for proof to deny his own statements and insists his statements were right at some point of time

This was the gist of the conversation I had recently. Me: I got item x from the capsule. Opp: It's impossible to get item x from the capsule, because such and such. Me: It is possible. I just got ...
3 votes
3 answers
446 views

What is it called when an opponent tells you to look up the source of their own claim, yourself?

Someone says: During the time of the dinosaurs CO2 levels were 9000 ppm. We're at 400. Nothing died back then either. Quite the opposite. Life was absolutely gigantic, even the plants were huge. ...
3 votes
2 answers
497 views

What does Slavoj Zizek mean by Hegel's reading of "felix culpa"?

Recently I watched "The duel of the century" between Slavoj Zizek and Jordan Peterson. Briefly in 2:17:45 min. Zizek points out to Hegel reading of "The story of the fall", a quote from Zizek This ...
0 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is there any rational justification to the counterargument "I refuse to answer your question on the basis that it is a hypothetical question?"

This is a common contention that comes up in heated debates. It seems to me like it qualifies as a non sequitur and a red herring. Possibly a different fallacy that I am unaware of. I would like to ...
2 votes
3 answers
92 views

How would you discredit this faulty argument?

Let's say I'm trying to argue that a certain activity is inherently dangerous and to be avoided at all costs, even though it is only dangerous if it is done without care, for example, driving a car.* ...
2 votes
1 answer
152 views

Philosophical "blind-siding" - Is it fair? What is it referred to as in common culture today?

Philosophical "blind-siding" I'm a student studying at a university and have found that many professors do something equivalent to a blind-sided hit in football. I call it "blind-sided" for lack of a ...
2 votes
1 answer
176 views

Are there any techniques for dealing with an arguer who continually denies facts?

Inspired by this question where individuals can't imagine something being possible, and somewhat similar to this. I've recently been in a debate where the debater had the very annoying habit of just ...
1 vote
3 answers
271 views

Is there a term for this 'disclaimer' technique used in statements?

This is a pretty common type of statement that's seen frequently on internet posts and discussions, but I was curious if there was a term for it. The statement starts off with a disclaimer which is ...
3 votes
3 answers
199 views

How does philosophy advance despite irreconcilable background assumptions ("positions") on every topic?

In philosophy there are always, and on almost everything, many "positions", many different possibilities to choose from, and there isn't mainly some decisive conclusion between positions as to what's "...
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to debate with someone who asks for proof of a fact they are not denying

I was debating with a flat earth believer and proposed a disproof of his theory. His theory being the earth is a circle and the sun is a spotlight that casts a circle of light beneath it. My ...
3 votes
1 answer
128 views

Any good philosophy debate recommendations?

[Note for admins - close if it doesn't fit the SE, I asked in the Symposium but no one answered so I came here. No need to downvote.] Hi all, I saw Dennet, Krauss, and Massimo debate a couple of days ...
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Are exams pointless [closed]

I just wanted someone elses opinion on if exams are kinda pointless? I feel exams don't give an accurate measure of ones ability. I have beeen told exams are about applying knowledge but how does one ...
3 votes
5 answers
2k views

Logic and reason is circular reasoning..?

In an argument about circular reasoning the opponent does nothing but state over and over that if 'God exists because the bible says so and the bible is true so god must exist' is circular reasoning, ...
1 vote
1 answer
81 views

Declining Choice

Is there any fallacy in the following scenario where a person declines a choice, maintaining that the choice is not hers? Scenario: A child states that she will clean her room if only she is given $...
9 votes
4 answers
416 views

Is there (or does something exist that is close to) a theory of arguments?

I'm looking for any extensive work on a framework for "arguments", that works something along these lines: When two parties are debating, they are making assertions on a particular domain, D. Those ...
1 vote
1 answer
149 views

How does one comment on does actions similar to Hitler's without invoking Godwin's Law?

Obviously, when making an argument, it is in one's best interest to make their argument logically solid and not engage in arguments that your opponents will not take seriously. One way to lose ...
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is there a name for a fallacy wherein it is assumed either someone is lying or their assertion is true?

I'm hoping to find a name already in somewhat common usage for a fallacy of the following form: A person claimed X. Therefore either X is true or the person is lying. I've seen this fallacy ...
1 vote
1 answer
80 views

Looking for a name for this flawed argument "tactic" [duplicate]

What is it called when you're in an argument with someone about some relatively small thing, and they bring up an overarching out-of-your control thing that if things go wrong, the smaller argument is ...
1 vote
2 answers
292 views

What is a logical fallacy that involves saying that a person is something solely because they said so?

For example, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea which could be seen as neither democratic, republican or being for the people. Or Bernie Sanders being called a democratic socialist when his ...
3 votes
2 answers
230 views

Is it sophistry to underline that a logical conclusion might stem from an ideology?

During an exchange on the subject human rights I underlined how the distinction between negative and positive rights (political and economic rights?) seemingly comes from a world view [as inclusive ...