Logical Errors

Logical Dodges

Special Immunity

Using the creative dodge of special immunity, one simply declares the entire matter at issue beyond the reach of logic. A few topics, such as human nature, romantic love, astrology, fortune telling, extrasensory perception, communication with the dead, religious doctrine, and artistic inspiration, seem to enjoy this kind of special immunity to logical discussion. Person A might insist that person B do something that will benefit person A-perhaps agree not to date other people-but which might not be in B's best interests as B sees it. Person A may say, "But I love you. You know that if you date anybody else, I get jealous. Why do you hurt my feelings that way?" This tactic also forms part of the appeal to guilt, classified under logical fallacies of argument. When person B begins inquire into the nature of the situation, asking for a definition of the terms involved, person A may retreat to the time-honored statement and say, "But why do you have to analyze it? Love is love. You can't define it. You can't analyze it. Just go with it." In my personal opinion, if one wants to grant special immunity from logical review to some topic, then he or she has no right to ask others to accept "logical" conclusions drawn from the topic as if they had the same degree of soundness as other conclusions drawn from nonexempt topics.

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Map of Logical Errors