3 votes

The perfect solution fallacy (Nirvana fallacy)

5 comments

  1. mrbig
    (edited )
    Link

    The perfect solution fallacy (...) occurs when an argument assumes that a perfect solution exists or that a solution should be rejected because some part of the problem would still exist after it was implemented. This is an example of black and white thinking, in which a person fails to see the complex interplay between multiple component elements of a situation or problem, and, as a result, reduces complex problems to a pair of binary extremes.

    The fallacy is a type of false dilemma.

    Example:
    Posit (fallacious)
    Seat belts are a bad idea. People are still going to die in car crashes.
    Rebuttal
    While seat belts cannot make driving 100% safe, they do reduce one's likelihood of dying in a car crash.

    3 votes
  2. [2]
    Grzmot
    Link
    I know that these threads are not the best base for discussion unless someone has personal experience to add, but do know OP that I'm quite enjoying these posts of curated interesting Wikipedia...

    I know that these threads are not the best base for discussion unless someone has personal experience to add, but do know OP that I'm quite enjoying these posts of curated interesting Wikipedia articles.

    3 votes
    1. mrbig
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Thanks! Wikipedia is pretty good for informal fallacies, I think. Additionally, this fallacy is pretty common on everyday reasoning, both on and offline. I touched on that before here, and here.

      Thanks! Wikipedia is pretty good for informal fallacies, I think.

      Additionally, this fallacy is pretty common on everyday reasoning, both on and offline. I touched on that before here, and here.

      1 vote
  3. [2]
    Kuromantis
    Link
    Related: I hate mondays

    Related: I hate mondays

    1 vote
    1. mrbig
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Haven't watched the entire video yet, but I can already tell that it criticizes several examples of this fallacy. And concerning your comment on the thread, different political stances tend to...

      Haven't watched the entire video yet, but I can already tell that it criticizes several examples of this fallacy.

      And concerning your comment on the thread, different political stances tend to fall victim to different kinds of reasoning flaws.

      EDIT: now that I finished, that video is kinda awesome. I'll watch more of this guy. Thanks for sharing!

      1 vote