Lecture Notes by Christopher Lay

Los Angeles Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, and Sociology

Mathew Van Cleave's 2016 Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking

https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/BookDetail.aspx?bookId=457

Chapter 4 "Informal fallacies", § 3 "Fallacies of Relevance," Sub-§ 3 "Tu Quoque"

"The tu quoque fallacy is a way of avoiding answering a criticism by bringing up a criticism of your opponent rather than answer the criticism." 

"The fallacy is best understood as a way of avoiding having to answer a tough criticism that one may not have a good answer to."   

"Tu quoque, as [presented in this textbook], is fallacious when the criticism one raises is simply in order to avoid having to answer a difficult objection to one’s argument or view."   

("'Tu quoque' is a Latin phrase that can be translated into English as 'you too' or 'you, also.'")

Exceptions

Imagine someone who criticizes someone for criticizing people. 

Example

Is this a fallacy?  Either way, explain why or why not. 

Kweego objects to Benahoot's failure to wash the dishes as Benahoot had promised to do.  Benahoot responds by criticizing Kweego's decision to wear the special socks to soccer practice. 

Example

Is this a fallacy?  Either way, explain why or why not. 

Kweego objects to Benahoot's failure to wash the dishes as Benahoot had promised to do.  Benahoot responds by highlighting Kweego's failure to keep a promise about fidelity.