What is/is there a name for the fallacy of social progress infinitely improving?
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Original Question
When I argue that a certain current political policy is bad for a minority group, a common argument against this is how gay people were poorly treated in the past, and now they're not, therefore this must eventually happen for every oppressed minority.
This could come in the form of me being worried about an uptick in negative policy towards a group and that being shot down with, "society is constantly moving forward so don't worry!" as a complete end.
However I think history shows this isn't a moral absolute and I want to put a name to it, given how prevalent and annoying it is, but it's very hard to effectively search for it in any fallacy databases.
Any help?
Answers
3Ignoring the claim that gays are not treated poorly anymore, it is the case that their treatment (as a group, at least here in the USA) is better now than it was in the past. In fact, the thesis of social progress (again, at least here in the USA) is a solid one for most minorities. What this doesn't mean (necessitate) is that every minority will follow the same pattern of progress. This is the fallacy of division .
The other problem is with the "don't worry about it" attitude. It is precisely us "worrying" about it causes the social change. This part is more of a problem with specialized knowledge (sociology) or perhaps cause and effect then with fallacious reasoning.
Yup. Grade on a curve. Like most white people do --Unless your're Irish, Russian, Jewish or German. They know the reasons why.
P1: Homosexuals are no longer treated badly.
P2: Homosexuals are an oppressed minority group.
C: No oppressed minority group will end up being treated badly.
Such an argument is an example for hasty generalization and illicit minor .
P1: Some minority group is treated badly.
P2: Society is constantly moving forward.
C: No minority group will end up being treated badly.
I would define this as non sequitur .
In addition to this, if your objection demands a change in the unjust policy towards the minority immediately, and someone answers that somewhere in the future things will fall into place, it is about avoiding the issue .
Final note: I have tried to cover the fallacies present in this reasoning, but it is possible that there is a contextual name for this fallacy that is not known to me and that you are looking for.
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