The English Oracle

Is there a name for an argument that is also a counter-argument?

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Chapters
00:00 Is There A Name For An Argument That Is Also A Counter-Argument?
00:20 Accepted Answer Score 28
00:33 Answer 2 Score 4
01:01 Answer 3 Score 2
01:24 Answer 4 Score 2
01:41 Thank you

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Tags
#singlewordrequests #phraserequests #logic

#avk47



ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 28


I would use the idiom cuts both ways.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/cut+both+ways

cut both ways

to affect both sides of an issue equally.




ANSWER 2

Score 4


If the argument supports both sides equally and the two sides are contradictory, then neither side logically follows from the premises. That would make the argument a non-sequitur.

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/resources/logical-fallacies

Non-Sequitur

In Latin this term translates to “doesn’t follow”. This refers to an argument in which the conclusion does not necessarily follow from the premises. In other words, a logical connection is implied where none exists.




ANSWER 3

Score 2


Contradictory Argument

The question is:

A person states an argument to support a position, but that argument could equally support the opposite position.

This would be a contradictory argument because the argument gives support to a position, while at the same time nullifying that support.




ANSWER 4

Score 2


One might call the argument orthogonal, irrelevant, or not pertinent (all discussed in this article), as it does not indicate a direction in position taking.

Another possible construction is not germane:

germane (adj.)
: relating to a subject in an appropriate way

[M-W]