Fallacious Use
In many cases tu quoque arguments are used in a logically fallacious way, to draw a conclusion which is not supported by the premises of the argument.
This form of the argument, familiar from everyday disagreements, is as follows:
- A makes criticism P.
- A is also guilty of P.
- Therefore, P is dismissed.
Examples:
- "He cannot accuse me of libel because he was just successfully sued for libel."
- Person 1: It should be illegal to make clothing out of animals.
- Person 2: But, you are wearing a leather jacket.
- Person 1: People shouldn't drink. It's a very damaging habit.
- Person 2: But you're drunk.
Read more about this topic: Tu Quoque
Famous quotes containing the word fallacious:
“Oh, don’t tell me of facts—I never believe facts: you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts, except figures.”
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845)
“In it he proves that all things are true and states how the truths of all contradictions may be reconciled physically, such as for example that white is black and black is white; that one can be and not be at the same time; that there can be hills without valleys; that nothingness is something and that everything, which is, is not. But take note that he proves all these unheard-of paradoxes without any fallacious or sophistical reasoning.”
—Savinien Cyrano De Bergerac (1619–1655)