No True Scotsman Fallacy (CT Scan, Episode 53)

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3 years ago
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fallacies critical thinking logic apologetics christian apologetics logical fallacy logical fallacies logical reasoning CT Scan Patricia Engler faith

No True Scotsman arguments say that no real member of some group would do something; for instance, no true scientist would reject evolution. These arguments become fallacies when they redefine a key term—like what it means to be a scientist—to avoid counterarguments. Here are some examples of how to recognize and respond to these fallacies.

DIGGING DEEPER
• Lisle, J. (2010). Can creationists be “real” scientists? https://answersingenesis.org/creation-scientists/can-creationists-be-real-scientists/ (Chapter in The New Answers Book 2, available online for free here: https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/new-answers-book-2/)
• Patterson, R. (2007). What is science? https://answersingenesis.org/what-is-science/what-is-science/ (Chapter in Evolution Exposed: Biology, available online for free here: https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/evolution-exposed-biology/)
• Bergman, J. (1999). Darwin and the Nazi race holocaust. https://answersingenesis.org/charles-darwin/racism/darwinism-and-the-nazi-race-holocaust/
• Other articles on evolution and morality: https://answersingenesis.org/charles-darwin/racism/

CITED REFERENCES
• 1. MacDonald & Vaughn (2016). Judging scientific theories: Evolution versus creationism. In, The power of critical thinking (4th Canadian ed., pp. 406-410). Don Mills, Ontario, Canada: Oxford University Press.
• 2. Brasseur, A. (2007). “The Dangers of Creationism in Education.” (Report: Committee on Culture, Science and Education, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Document 11375). https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/X2H-Xref-ViewHTML.asp?FileID=11751&lang=EN
• 3. Nieminen, P., & Mustonen, A. M. (2014). Argumentation and fallacies in creationist writings against evolutionary theory. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 7(1), 11.

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