special pleading
1
8.9
- noun
- /ˈspɛʃəl ˈplidɪŋ/
:
razonamiento selectivo
- The argument was dismissed as special pleading because it ignored crucial evidence against the claim.
Examples
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When you apply that rationale to something unevidenced, it's called "special pleading."
Blog text (32) -
I dare say you'd be inclined to recognize this as special pleading when you see it being applied by religions that you don't believe in, and yet it doesn't apply to your religion.
Blog text (32) -
I guess that's a form of special pleading.
Blog text (19) -
In the end, Ji's little screed is nothing more than a massive case of special pleading.
Blog text (32) -
Isn't this just special pleading, designed to prop up a story that Bronze Age sheep herders told each other around their campfires?
Blog text (19) -
So no, I'm not committing any fallacy of special pleading by (a) talking about what Christians believe and (b) suggesting that the topic under discussion here provides support for what Christians believe.
Blog text (32) -
During the debate, her reasoning fell into special pleading, as she only presented facts that supported her position.
-
Critics argued that his defense was merely special pleading, lacking any consideration of the opposing views.
Antonyms
How Biased
1
5.3
- Informal
1
7.0
1
8.9
7
9.8
- US
4
8.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The parts 'special' (particular/unusual) and 'pleading' (an argument or plea) give a learner some clue that this refers to a particular kind of argument or request. However, the precise rhetorical meaning — making an unjustified exception or ignoring contrary evidence (a fallacy) — is a technical, non-obvious extension and is unlikely to be fully predictable to a B1 learner, so the expression is only partly transparent.
Etymology
Special pleading now also means asking for a private exception when you argue. Picture someone making a 'special' pleading just for themselves — they ignore the usual 'rule' or bad 'evidence', so the phrase means giving yourself an unfair exception.