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Author Topic:   Appeal to difficulty
Funkaloyd
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 3 (310722)
05-10-2006 11:08 AM


Is it a fallacy to argue that an idea is either correct or incorrect based on how difficult it is to accept said idea? If so, what's the name of that fallacy?
An example would be the argument that atheism is somehow an "easy way out", therefore wrong.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by EZscience, posted 05-10-2006 12:52 PM Funkaloyd has not replied
 Message 3 by Chiroptera, posted 05-10-2006 1:39 PM Funkaloyd has not replied

  
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5154 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 2 of 3 (310748)
05-10-2006 12:52 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Funkaloyd
05-10-2006 11:08 AM


Obviously 'difficulty of acceptance' (DOA) is too subjective a criterion to be a basis for determining the validity of any idea, but we do see this come up repeatedly.
DOA can be a function of one's actual knowledge or one's preconceived beliefs arising from dogma.
I have difficulty accepting religions because none are based on any factual evidence. However, I would not argue that religions cannot be true because I find them difficult to believe, but rather that they are unworthy of contemplation without a means of testing their veracity.
Creos have difficulty accepting evolution because they believe it conflicts with dogma they have already decided is true. Their preconceptions are a critical component of their 'difficulty of acceptance', but lacking a good evidence base, they more often cite DOA as a reason for evolution not likely being correct than someone who's beliefs are evidence-based.
So I am thinking yes, fallacial reasoning it must be, because 'correct' or 'incorrect' can only be determined on the basis of objective evidence. 'Difficulty of acceptance' is very subjective and too often merely a function of either someone's failure to grasp an intellectual concept, or their intrinsic resistance to an idea.
Maybe we could call it "the fallacy of unwarranted incredulity".
This message has been edited by EZscience, 05-10-2006 01:37 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Funkaloyd, posted 05-10-2006 11:08 AM Funkaloyd has not replied

  
Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 3 (310759)
05-10-2006 1:39 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Funkaloyd
05-10-2006 11:08 AM


I often hear it called Argument from Personal Incredultiy.
Added by edit:
Oops, I didn't read your second line:
quote:
An example would be the argument that atheism is somehow an "easy way out", therefore wrong.
I would just call this a non sequitur.
This message has been edited by Chiroptera, 10-May-2006 05:50 PM

"Religion is the best business to be in. It's the only one where the customers blame themselves for product failure."
-- Ellis Weiner (quoted on the NAiG message board)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Funkaloyd, posted 05-10-2006 11:08 AM Funkaloyd has not replied

  
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