Question

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TrappedPrior (RotE)

What Is This Fallacy

Tom's company decides to give all male employees a $10,000/yr raise (and nothing to the female employees).  When Tom (a male employee, so h e would benefit) complains, his manager fallaciously says "This benefits you, so you shouldn't be complaining".

asked on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 12:00:05 AM by TrappedPrior (RotE)

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account no longer exists writes:

I think that when a question is asked it should at leastvbe presented as an argument. What is the manager's argument? Premises? Besides, why do YOU think it is fallacious as you asserted?

posted on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 12:36:23 AM
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Bill writes:

Great question.

Sounds like a moral fallacy rather than a logical fallacy. Maybe you should invent a clever name for it? 

posted on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 07:36:49 AM
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Bill writes:
[To Bill]

The fallacious argument is of the form "X benefits Y.  Therefore Y approves of X.". My new name for it is Non-consentual Benefits.

[ login to reply ] posted on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 02:48:42 PM
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Bill writes:
[To snakemasterepic]

OK, cool. Spread this around and you might become famous! 

[ login to reply ] posted on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 03:05:51 PM
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TrappedPrior (RotE) writes:
[To snakemasterepic]

This is not a new logical fallacy, and we need to be aware of 'fallacifaction' (where we get obsessed with finding these little logical errors in arguments to the point where rather than testing a series of claims we're just looking for the chance to dazzle someone with a pretentious buzzword).

P1) X benefits Y.

C) Y approves of X.

This is a standard non sequitur; something already covered on this website. As you can see, there is a missing premise between P1 and C (conclusion), meaning the premise supplied does not imply said conclusion.

We can plug the leak like this:

P1) X benefits Y.

Implicit P2) Y will support whatever benefits them.

C) Y supports X.

Now we have a formally valid, but persuasively weak argument. This is because the implicit premise is faulty. Aside from the meaning of 'benefit' and 'support' being unclear, we can't say conclusively what Y's opinion will be on 'whatever', since we cannot read their mind.

So this is really either a non-sequitur or a very weak syllogistic argument, not a new logically fallacy, sorry.

[ login to reply ] posted on Monday, Apr 26, 2021 05:57:02 PM
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Bill writes:
[To Bill]

I'm not sure what a "moral fallacy" would be. Please define.

[ login to reply ] posted on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 08:36:10 PM

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Answers

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Bo Bennett, PhD
2

It is a faulty (implied premise) in the argument.

P1. People shouldn't complain about injustice as long as they are not the targets of the injustice.
P2. Tom is not the target of the injustice.
C. Therefore, Tom should not complain.

P1 is a faulty premise.

answered on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 06:44:05 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD

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GoblinCookie
-1

The manager is confusing different sense of good, as in good for me vs good in general.

avoiding the issue.

The issue is what is good or just in general, not what is good for me.

answered on Saturday, Apr 24, 2021 05:46:32 AM by GoblinCookie

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