Argument to moderation

Informal fallacy that the truth is always a compromise, even if such a position is unfeasible

Argument to moderation (Latin: argumentum ad temperantiam)—also known as the false compromise, argument from middle ground, fallacy of gray, middle ground fallacy, or golden mean fallacy[1]—is the fallacy that the truth is always in the middle of two opposites.[2] It does not necessarily suggest that an argument for the middle solution or for a compromise is always fallacious, but rather applies primarily in cases where such a position is ill-informed, unfeasible, or impossible, or where an argument is incorrectly made that a position is correct simply because it is in the middle.[3][4]

An example of an argument to moderation would be considering two statements about the colour of the sky on Earth during the day – one claiming, correctly, that the sky is blue, and another claiming that it is yellow – and incorrectly concluding that the sky is the intermediate colour, green.[5]

See also

  • Philosophy portal
  • Centrism – Political orientation
  • Dialectic – Discursive method of arriving at the truth by way of reasoned contradiction and argumentation
  • False balance – Media bias on opposing viewpoints
  • Horseshoe theory – Alleged similarity of the far-left and far-right
  • Overton window – Range of ideas tolerated in public discourse
  • Ratchet effect – Restrained ability of human process reversal
  • Straw man – Form of argument and informal fallacy
  • View from nowhere – Principle in journalismPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • Wisdom of the crowd – Collective perception of a group of people
  • Paradox of tolerance – Logical paradox in decision-making theory

References

  1. ^ Fallacy: Middle Ground Archived 21 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Nizkor Project (accessed 29 November 2012)
  2. ^ Harker, David (2015). Creating Scientific Controversies: Uncertainty and Bias in Science and Society. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-06961-9. LCCN 2015011610.
  3. ^ "Argument to Moderation". Logically Fallacious. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  4. ^ Rose, Hannah (17 May 2022). "False compromise fallacy: why the middle ground is not always the best". Ness Labs. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  5. ^ Gardner, Susan T. (2009). Thinking Your Way to Freedom: A Guide to Owning Your Own Practical Reasoning. Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1-59213-867-8. JSTOR j.ctt14btd4j. LCCN 2008023988.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Common fallacies (list)
Formal
In propositional logic
In quantificational logic
Syllogistic fallacy
Informal
Equivocation
Question-begging
Correlative-based
Illicit transference
Secundum quid
Faulty generalization
Ambiguity
Questionable cause
Appeals
Consequences
Emotion
Genetic fallacy
Ad hominem
Other fallacies
of relevance
Arguments
  • Category
Stub icon

This logic-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e