Tu quoque

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Tu quoque /tˈkwkw/,[1] (Latin for "you, too" or "you, also") or the appeal to hypocrisy, is a logical fallacy that attempts to discredit the opponent's position by asserting the opponent's failure to act consistently in accordance with that position; it attempts to show that a criticism or objection applies equally to the person making it. This dismisses someone's point of view based on criticism of the person's inconsistency and not the position presented[2] whereas a person's inconsistency should not discredit the position. Thus, it is a form of the ad hominem argument.[3] To clarify, although the person being attacked might indeed be acting inconsistently or hypocritically, such behavior does not invalidate the position presented.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ OED
  2. ^ Bluedorn, Nathaniel (2002, 2003). The Fallacy Detective. p. 54. ISBN 0-9745315-0-2. 
  3. ^ Logical Fallacy: Tu Quoque