Question
if in one instance someone believes fictional characters can be beyond the speed of light and then the next believe they cannot, what would that be? is that a contradiction, a fallacy?
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o
If someone alternately believes that fictional characters can be beyond the speed of light and then believes they cannot, that situation can be described as a contradiction, specifically a logical inconsistency. A contradiction occurs when a person holds two or more beliefs that cannot all be true at the same time.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's a fallacy unless the person is reasoning based on these contradictory beliefs to draw a conclusion or convince others. A fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that weakens an argument, so if the contradictory beliefs are used within an argument, that argument might be underpinned by a logical fallacy. One specific type could be the "inconsistency fallacy," which arises when someone makes an argument that is self-contradictory.
To summarize:
- **Contradiction**: Holding two opposing beliefs simultaneously (e.g., believing characters can and cannot exceed the speed of light).
- **Fallacy**: If the contradictory beliefs are used in reasoning or argumentation, it may be seen as an inconsistency fallacy.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean it's a fallacy unless the person is reasoning based on these contradictory beliefs to draw a conclusion or convince others. A fallacy is a flaw in reasoning that weakens an argument, so if the contradictory beliefs are used within an argument, that argument might be underpinned by a logical fallacy. One specific type could be the "inconsistency fallacy," which arises when someone makes an argument that is self-contradictory.
To summarize:
- **Contradiction**: Holding two opposing beliefs simultaneously (e.g., believing characters can and cannot exceed the speed of light).
- **Fallacy**: If the contradictory beliefs are used in reasoning or argumentation, it may be seen as an inconsistency fallacy.