The “No True Scotsman” Fallacy
How to spot this common fallacy
The No True Scotsman Fallacy is a common logical trap that people can easily fall into. It’s also a fallacy people often misapply to others.
The No True Scotsman Fallacy is when a person dismisses an example (or counterexample) of a critique of that person’s group or tribe by insisting that the example (or counterexample) doesn’t represent a “true” or “real” version of the group or tribe.
The fallacy got its name from British philosopher Antony Flew, who illustrated the fallacy with an example of…well…a Scotsman. A simplified version of Flew’s example (which has been repeated and explained by numerous thinkers, authors, and philosophers since) is as follows:
Person A: “No Scotsman puts sugar on his porridge.”
Person B: “My uncle is a Scotsman and he puts sugar on his porridge.”
Person A: “Well, no true Scotsman would do that.”
Instead of reconsidering their generalization, Person A shifts the definition of “Scotsman” to be some true or pure version that excludes anything that doesn’t fit their view.
By doing this, they sidestep legitimate critiques or counterpoints rather than addressing them fairly.
