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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Autological arguments #171123 11/04/2007 2:00 PM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 What do you call an argument (or statement) that is an example of the very thing it seeks to refute. For example: "Ad hominem arguments are the tools of scoundrels and blackguards. Therefore, they are invalid." See here for more hilarious (well, funny) examples. For the time being, I have borrowed autologica: the word for words like "word" from another thread. It reminds me of an aporia, such as: "All written statements are false" (which, ex hypothesi, etc.) but seems to want its own Latinate sesquipedalianism. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Autological arguments Hydra #171305 11/13/2007 5:54 PM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 I posted. I Googled. I trawled through Silva Rhetoricæ. I (yes Dale) OneLooked. There's just no word for it for this particular rhetorical hypocrisy. What on earth am I going to do? I guess if the need arises I'll just have to (gasp!) describe the concept in plain English! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Autological arguments Hydra #171316 11/14/2007 12:21 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky How about a coined term: a prima facie fallacy? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Autological arguments Hydra #171317 11/14/2007 1:14 AM Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 99 Hungarian Gypsy R. Eastcourt journeyman R. Eastcourt journeyman Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 99 Hungarian Gypsy [quote=Hydra]What do you call an argument (or statement) that is an example of the very thing it seeks to refute. 'Fishing'. I prefer 'angling', but most moderators take the lower road. For example: If a guy argues that the USA should place claymoor mines in proximity with a border fence (as many, many, have argued), one could fish that statement; pretending to agree with that scenario, and ask, " Can I be the guy to hose the fence down the next morning?" However, a true angler would reason that this is a great opportunity to harvest fresh placebo for medical research. Last edited by R. Eastcourt; 11/14/2007 2:10 AM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Autological arguments R. Eastcourt #171324 11/14/2007 6:22 AM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Re: Fishing. Sure. If the speaker is aware of the hypocrisy. That would be an example of Socratic irony. And the " tools of scoundrels and blackguards" example would be a witty rebuttal of an ad hominem argument. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Autological arguments Hydra #171352 11/15/2007 12:50 AM Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 99 Hungarian Gypsy R. Eastcourt journeyman R. Eastcourt journeyman Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 99 Hungarian Gypsy I would like to know more about the "tools of scoundrels and blackguards"......., according to Hydra. Is there a code of ethics? Has it ever been an effective tool? It does require the user, at the very least, to have slept with the boors. No? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Autological arguments R. Eastcourt #171460 11/19/2007 8:49 PM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, but I suspect you are either a genius or an imbecile. 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