Question

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Shawn

What is the difference between special pleading and a double standard?

Special Pleading: Adding an unjustified standard for a certain position.

Double Standard: Adding an extra standard that does not align with the previous standard.

The Examples I have seen on the internet are all the same, this fallacy is basically just a distinction but not a difference because they are interchangeable, I know many fallacies can fit into one argument but is there a case where one is a fallacy and the other isn't?

asked on Friday, Jan 14, 2022 01:06:22 PM by Shawn

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account no longer exists writes:

Gonna be honest I don't know and I don't think there is any difference.

posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2022 01:28:18 PM
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Shawn writes:
[To River]

It is more a play on words than any real difference. 

[ login to reply ] posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2022 07:45:25 AM
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account no longer exists writes:

I agree. No difference.

posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2022 03:34:12 PM

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Answers

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TrappedPrior (RotE)
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I think we can say that a Double Standard is not a fallacy itself, but more like an unfair convention that causes people to treat two things which should be treated the same, differently. Special Pleading would be the act of applying a Double Standard.

So, let's take misogyny for example.

Double Standard:

"It is okay for men to sleep around, but not for women to do the same."

Special Pleading:

Micah:  I can't stand it when women have multiple sexual partners. It's so slutty.

Lynn:  You've had multiple girlfriends, at once, in the past.

Micah:  Ah, but that's different.

answered on Friday, Jan 14, 2022 05:10:55 PM by TrappedPrior (RotE)

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Ed F writes:

I agree:   The two are closely related and that the fallacy is Special Pleading.  
 I notice (on the internet) that where they're both treated as fallacies, that with Double Standard the emphasis is on hypocrisy, whereas with Special Pleading, the emphasis is on inconsistency; i.e., the reasoner doesn’t apply his or her principles consistently (by allowing exceptions without any good basis for the exceptions).   They’re basically the same but the emphasis is different.
Dr. Bo's book has a list of various cognitive biases, including biases in decision making.  Having a Double Standard would appear to be a bias in decision making (toward one's self, or causes one believes in), which leads one to the Fallacy of Special Pleading.

posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2022 11:05:48 AM