Posted by Lars on December 30, 1996 at 10:32:11:
In Reply to: Plausible deniability and special pleading posted by Jason on December 27, 1996 at 20:06:42:
According to the "Introduction to logic" at alt.atheism, this is what special pleading refers to:
"The fallacy is committed when someone appeals to pity for the sake of getting a conclusion accepted. For example: 'I did not murder my mother and father with an axe! Please don't find me guilty; I'm suffering enough through being an orphan.'"
: One aspect I enjoy about the Internet is its capacity to
: educate. There are two concepts in particular that I would
: like to learn more about. In critical thinking skills, two
: concepts I'm having a little trouble understanding are
: "plausible deniability" and "special pleading." I come
: across these terms in books on critical thinking skills but
: they're not explained that clearly. I would like to know
: exactly what these terms mean because I've heard they're
: commonplace in fallacious arguments.
: I know that plausible deniability has something to do with
: saving a leader from an embarrassing situation while
: special pleading has something to with telling a person to
: think in a certain way. Can anyone give a clear definition
: and provide some good examples? Thanks.
: - Jason