Difference between revisions of "Perfectionism straw-man"
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==About== | ==About== | ||
| − | + | A [[perfectionism straw-man]] is any [[argument]] of the general form "we can never do ''X'' perfectly, therefore there is no point in trying to do ''X'' at all", i.e. replacing a possibly-realistic goal with a [[straw-man]] goal of perfection. It can also be seen as a form of [[moving the goalposts]], where the goalposts are moved infinitely far away, and as an example of [[all-or-nothing thinking]]. | |
| − | A goal of ''reducing'' evil, | + | This argument is generally used to maintain the status quo by discussing change in terms suggesting that anything short of perfection would be unsatisfactory. |
| + | ==Related== | ||
| + | * The [[wikipedia:Nirvana fallacy|Nirvana fallacy]] is any instance "of comparing actual things with unrealistic, idealized alternatives", which would therefore be a superset of the [[perfectionism straw-man]]. | ||
| + | * The [[wikipedia:perfect solution fallacy|perfect solution fallacy]] assumes "that a solution should be rejected because some part of the problem would still exist after it were implemented". | ||
| + | * The problem posed by the [[perfectionism straw-man]] is often expressed as "[[wikipedia:perfect is the enemy of good|perfect is the enemy of good]]". | ||
| + | ==Example== | ||
| + | A reasonable goal of ''reducing'' evil, or reducing the harm done by evil, or reducing evil in a certain specified context, is dismissed as being equivalent to the impossible goal of ''eliminating all'' evil. | ||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | This term was first proposed [https://plus.google.com/u/0/102282887764745350285/posts/QbXt9VZSQKQ on Google+] on 2013-05-22. | ||
Latest revision as of 13:51, 23 May 2013
About
A perfectionism straw-man is any argument of the general form "we can never do X perfectly, therefore there is no point in trying to do X at all", i.e. replacing a possibly-realistic goal with a straw-man goal of perfection. It can also be seen as a form of moving the goalposts, where the goalposts are moved infinitely far away, and as an example of all-or-nothing thinking.
This argument is generally used to maintain the status quo by discussing change in terms suggesting that anything short of perfection would be unsatisfactory.
Related
- The Nirvana fallacy is any instance "of comparing actual things with unrealistic, idealized alternatives", which would therefore be a superset of the perfectionism straw-man.
- The perfect solution fallacy assumes "that a solution should be rejected because some part of the problem would still exist after it were implemented".
- The problem posed by the perfectionism straw-man is often expressed as "perfect is the enemy of good".
Example
A reasonable goal of reducing evil, or reducing the harm done by evil, or reducing evil in a certain specified context, is dismissed as being equivalent to the impossible goal of eliminating all evil.
Notes
This term was first proposed on Google+ on 2013-05-22.