Non-capitalist society can be capitalist

By Dr. Sohail Ansari

·        Society can’t be anti-capitalist as long as it likes the things only unequal distribution of money can buy

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Tu quoque

Description of Ad Hominem Tu Quoque. This fallacy is committed when it is concluded that a person's claim is false because 1) it is inconsistent with something else a person has said or 2) what a person says is inconsistent with her actions. This type of "argument" has the following form: Person A makes claim X.

Ad Hominem (Tu quoque)

Argumentum ad hominem tu quoque

(also known as:  “you too” fallacy, hypocrisy, personal inconsistency)

Description: Claiming the argument is flawed by pointing out that the one making the argument is not acting consistently with the claims of the argument.

Logical Form:

Person 1 is claiming that Y is true, but person 1 is acting as if Y is not true.

Therefore, Y must not be true.

Example #1:

Helga: You should not be eating that... it has been scientifically proven that eating fat burgers are no good for your health.

Hugh: You eat fat burgers all the time so that can’t be true.

Explanation: It doesn’t matter (to the truth claim of the argument at least) if Helga follows her own advice or not.  While it might appear that the reason she does not follow her own advice is because she doesn’t believe it’s true, it could also be that those fat burgers are just too damn irresistible.

Example #2:

Jimmy Swaggart argued strongly against sexual immorality, yet he has had several affairs with prostitutes; therefore, sexual immorality is acceptable.

Explanation: The fact Jimmy Swaggart likes to play a round of bedroom golf with some local entrepreneurial ladies, is not evidence for sexual immorality in general, only that he is sexually immoral.

Exception: If Jimbo insisted that his actions were in line with sexual morality, then it would be a very germane part of the argument.

Tip: Again, admit when your lack of self-control or will-power has nothing to do with the truth claim of the proposition.  The following is what I remember my dad telling me about smoking (he smoked about 4 packs a day since he was 14).

Bo, never be a stupid a--hole like me and start smoking.  It is a disgusting habit that I know will eventually kill me.  If you never start, you will never miss it.

My dad died at age 69 -- of lung cancer.  I never touched a cigarette in my life and never plan to touch one.

Description of Ad Hominem Tu Quoque

This fallacy is committed when it is concluded that a person's claim is false because 1) it is inconsistent with something else a person has said or 2) what a person says is inconsistent with her actions. This type of "argument" has the following form:

1.   Person A makes claim X.

2.   Person B asserts that A's actions or past claims are inconsistent with the truth of claim X.

3.   Therefore X is false.

The fact that a person makes inconsistent claims does not make any particular claim he makes false (although of any pair of inconsistent claims only one can be true - but both can be false). Also, the fact that a person's claims are not consistent with his actions might indicate that the person is a hypocrite but this does not prove his claims are false.

Examples of Ad Hominem Tu Quoque

1.   Bill: "Smoking is very unhealthy and leads to all sorts of problems. So take my advice and never start." 
Jill: "Well, I certainly don't want to get cancer." 
Bill: "I'm going to get a smoke. Want to join me Dave?" 
Jill: "Well, I guess smoking can't be that bad. After all, Bill smokes."

2.   Jill: "I think the gun control bill shouldn't be supported because it won't be effective and will waste money." 
Bill: "Well, just last month you supported the bill. So I guess you're wrong now."

3.   Peter: "Based on the arguments I have presented, it is evident that it is morally wrong to use animals for food or clothing." 
Bill: "But you are wearing a leather jacket and you have a roast beef sandwich in your hand! How can you say that using animals for food and clothing is wrong!"