special pleading
Rules for thee
Special pleading is the logical fallacy of applying standards selectively—demanding exceptions for oneself or one's position while holding others to stricter rules.
The term comes from law, where a special plea introduced new facts rather than simply denying charges.
Now it describes any argument that conveniently exempts itself from principles it applies to everyone else: When caught speeding, he argued his case was different because he was running late—classic special pleading.
Choosing only supporting examples
- double standardsJudging others differently than yourself
- moving the goalpostsChanging rules mid-argument
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
- begging the questionAssuming what needs proof
motivated reasoning · rationalization · false equivalence · unfalsifiability · escape hatch
Judging others differently than yourself
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- self-servingBenefiting oneself primarily
- exceptionalismBelief in unique superiority
- preferential treatmentAdvantages given selectively
Unfair favor toward some
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- self-serving biasCrediting yourself for wins, others for losses
- in-group biasFavoritism toward one's own
- one-sidednessImbalanced viewpoint or treatment
prejudice · partisanship · nepotism · tribalism · confirmation bias
Reason proving rightness
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- alibiDefense of location
- pretextFabricated motive concealing truth
- explanationStatement making something clear
extenuation · mitigation · defense · apologia · vindication · whitewashing · spin · deflection
cherry-picking
Choosing only supporting examples
- double standardsJudging others differently than yourself
- moving the goalpostsChanging rules mid-argument
- circular reasoningFallacy assuming its conclusion
begging the question · motivated reasoning · rationalization · false equivalence · unfalsifiability · escape hatch
double standards
Judging others differently than yourself
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- self-servingBenefiting oneself primarily
- exceptionalismBelief in unique superiority
preferential treatment · selective enforcement · cognitive dissonance
partiality
Unfair favor toward some
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- self-serving biasCrediting yourself for wins, others for losses
- in-group biasFavoritism toward one's own
one-sidedness · prejudice · partisanship · nepotism · tribalism · confirmation bias
justification
Reason proving rightness
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- alibiDefense of location
- pretextFabricated motive concealing truth
explanation · extenuation · mitigation · defense · apologia · vindication · whitewashing · spin · deflection · exculpation
- debate tacticsexaggeration, appeal to authority, appeal to emotion, logical fallacy, straw man
- fallaciesstraw man, red herring, circular reasoning, ad hominem, fallacy
- logical fallaciesfallacy, straw man, ad hominem, red herring, false dilemma
- rationalizationsdenial, minimizing, deflection, sour grapes, victim blaming
- rhetoric termsethos, pathos, logos, ad hominem, oratory
- excusesexcuse, not my fault, overslept, alibi, excuses
special pleadingimpartiality
Freedom from prejudice
even-handedness · objectivity · equal treatment · fair-mindedness · fairness
special, plead, specialist, specially, pleading, specials, specialize, pleaded, specialized