Logically Fallacious: The Ultimate Collection of Over 300 Logical Fallacies (Academic Edition) (Dr. Bo's Critical Thinking Series)

by Bo Bennett

Unreasonable Inclusion Fallacy Description: Attempting to broaden the criteria for inclusion in an ill-famed group or associated with a negative label to the point where the term's definition is changed substantially to condemn or criminalize a far less malicious or deleterious behavior. Logical Form: Person A is accused of bad behavior X. Group Y traditionally does not include individuals with bad behavior X. Person A is said to be a part of group Y for bad behavior X. Person A is accused of bad behavior X. Label Y traditionally does not include bad behavior X. Person A is given label Y for bad behavior X. Example #1: Tony does not agree that every black person in America should be compensated financially for the history of slavery. Therefore, Tony is a racist. Explanation: The term "racist" is an extremely pejorative term that has traditionally been associated with those holding beliefs of racial supremacy—the belief that one's race is superior to other races. By expanding the definition to include "those who don't agree with policies that benefit another race," we fallaciously equate the behavior with the label’s or group’s far more malicious roots. Not only does this unreasonably characterize the person who is against the policy, but it also waters down the meaning of "racist" to the point where traditional racists are unreasonably seen more favorably because the term "racism" has been expanded to include a spectrum of far less malicious behaviors.