Logic: No True Scotsman

The No True Scotsman fallacy is a form of circular reasoning that occurs when someone attempts to protect a generalized claim from counterexamples by arbitrarily redefining or excluding specific cases that don't fit the claim. It involves shifting the goalposts to maintain the original assertion in the face of contradictory evidence. This fallacy is often used to defend a stereotype, belief, or generalization by dismissing counterexamples as exceptions that do not truly represent the group in question.

Here's a detailed explanation with examples:

1. No True Scotsman Example 1: Statement: "All Scotsmen are honorable and noble." Counterexample: "But I know a Scotsman who was involved in a scandal." Response: "Well, no true Scotsman would ever be involved in a scandal."

   In this example, the person dismisses the counterexample by claiming that a "true" Scotsman would not behave dishonorably, effectively redefining the group's characteristics to exclude any undesirable cases.

2. No True Scotsman Example 2: Statement: "Vegetarians never eat any animal products." Counterexample: "My friend is a vegetarian, but I saw them eat a slice of cheese." Response: "Well, a true vegetarian would never eat cheese."

   Here, the fallacy is employed to exclude the counterexample by redefining what a "true" vegetarian would or would not eat.

3. No True Scotsman Example 3: Statement: "Religious people are always kind and compassionate." Counterexample: "I know a religious person who was involved in a cruel act." Response: "That person wasn't a true believer; true religious people are always kind."

   The fallacy is used to dismiss the counterexample by asserting that a "true" religious person would never act in a cruel manner.

4. No True Scotsman Example 4: Statement: "All real artists are tormented souls." Counterexample: "I met an artist who is happy and well-adjusted." Response: "Well, a true artist must suffer for their art."

   The fallacy is applied to exclude the counterexample by introducing the notion that a "true" artist must experience suffering.

5. No True Scotsman Example 5: Statement: "Science never makes mistakes." Counterexample: "Scientists have made incorrect predictions before." Response: "Those scientists weren't practicing true science; real science is infallible."

   Here, the fallacy is used to dismiss the counterexample by asserting that the examples of incorrect predictions do not represent "true" science.

In each of these examples, the No True Scotsman fallacy occurs when the initial claim is modified or redefined in response to counterexamples, effectively shifting the criteria for membership in the group or category. This fallacy is a way of avoiding the need to address contradictory evidence by making the claim more restrictive to maintain its apparent validity.