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Following something ideologically, not practically

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Original Question

Suppose I follow something ideologically, not practically. Does it fall under any fallacy OR if someone accuses me of that, will he be making any fallacy? There are things we DONT FOLLOW practically but we do approve it or follow ideologically. 

Comments on Question

Remember that fallacies take place within the context of argumentation. What one "follows" is irrelevant. An example would help to understand better.

Answers

2

Let's say you're religious. You're in the Church of Somethingology.


According to Somethingology, you must sell all your worldly possessions, give the money to the Church, and live ascetically - that you may leave the world as pure as you came. You agree with this doctrine, promote it, and defend it - but own multiple homes, drive fast cars, and have many, many affairs.


Are you a hypocrite? Yes.


Is it fallacious to be a hypocrite? Nope. 


A fallacy takes place in an argument. So while you'd be being deceiving people into thinking you're more moral than you are, you haven't really made an argument, so no fallacy.


It is also possible that you  cannot  follow something practically, because of societal constraints. Say Mika is a socialist and wishes to abolish capitalism. In her ideal world, we'd all live in a series of communes without a central authority. Yet, she owns a laptop and drinks Starbucks.


Is she a hypocrite?  No ; we do not live in the system that she proposes. So there's little wiggle-room for her to 'live' as a socialist. Furthermore, the entire point of supporting socialism is to  change  the existing society, which you cannot do outside of it - so while one may disagree with her views, she's not a hypocrite and isn't committing a fallacy either.

Unless there is an argument there would be  no fallacy. One could call you a hypocrite maybe.

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