Moralistic Fallacy

The moralistic fallacy is a pervasive logical error that occurs when one assumes that what is morally right must also be natural, and conversely, anything deemed immoral is unnatural. This fallacy can manifest in various forms, leading to flawed reasoning and conclusions. Understanding the intricacies of this fallacy is crucial for enhancing critical thinking and decision-making processes across different domains.

The moralistic fallacy takes several forms, each contributing to a distorted view of reality. One common manifestation is the assumption of impossibility, where one concludes that because something leads to socially unpleasant consequences, it cannot be true. This argument often follows the structure: “If X were true, then Z would happen! Thus, X is false,” where Z represents an undesirable outcome.

No True Scotsman

The “No True Scotsman” fallacy is a type of informal logical fallacy that involves defending a generalization by arbitrarily excluding counterexamples. It occurs when someone makes a universal claim about a group or category, and upon encountering evidence that contradicts this claim, they redefine the group in a way that excludes the counterexample.