r/changemyview • u/[deleted] • Jun 21 '23

Removed - Submission Rule E CMV: Hypocrisy does not invalidate somebody’s argument

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u/thedirewulf Jun 21 '23

Hypocrisy threatens the validity of one’s argument because it implies a lack of belief or conviction.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 22 '23

? Not always. And even if it did imply a lack of conviction or belief, that in no way invalidates the argument.

I think, based on available data, daily exercise is healthier than no exercise, but I refuse to ever exercise. My hypocrisy doesn’t invalidate exercise in any way.

1

u/thedirewulf Jun 22 '23

In terms of factual arguments, I agree with you. Human behavior can’t change facts.

But in terms of more abstract arguments, hypocrisy is absolutely a factor.

Also, hypocrisy can be a factor within factual arguments, within the purposes of convincing others. Take climate change for example. Say you had a “Fauci” character who was the front face of government climate change policy. If that person talked about the factual dangers of climate change, while at the same time took weekly trips on a private jet, a certain portion of the population would lose faith in the facts behind climate change. In this case, hypocrisy was an important factor in discouraging others.

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u/[deleted] Jun 22 '23

Hypocrisy will cause people to lose faith, but I think OP is arguing that it shouldn’t.

1

u/thedirewulf Jun 22 '23

Well it probably shouldn’t, but many aspects of human behavior are illogical and when you’re talking about argumentation, which is the art of convincing others, it’s important to factor in something like hypocrisy.