Sometimes you apply a double standard to the things you love, the things you believe, and the things crucial to your identity, and often you do so without realizing it.

Special pleading is all about searching for exemptions and excuses for why a standard, or a rule, or a description, or a definition does not apply to something that you hold dear.

It's also used to explain away how something extraordinary fails to stand up to scrutiny, or why there is a lack of evidence for a difficult-to-believe claim.

In this episode, listen as three experts in logic and reasoning dive deep into the odd thinking behind the special pleading fallacy.

• Show Notes: http://bit.ly/208Sv6V

• Patreon: www.patreon.com/youarenotsosmart

• Donate Directly through PayPal: www.paypal.me/DavidMcRaney

SPONSORS
• SquareSpace: www.squarespace.com - Offer Code SoSmart
• The Great Courses Plus: www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/smart
• MIT Press: mitpress.mit.edu/smart

Patreon: http://patreon.com/youarenotsosmart

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.