Single Idea 12223

[catalogued under 2. Reason / F. Fallacies / 1. Fallacy]

Full Idea

The fallacy of 'ad obscurum per obscurius' is to explain the obscure by appeal to what is more obscure.

Gist of Idea

It is a fallacy to explain the obscure with the even more obscure

Source

B Hale / C Wright (The Metaontology of Abstraction [2009], §3)

Book Reference

'Metametaphysics', ed/tr. Chalmers/Manley/Wasserman [OUP 2009], p.182


A Reaction

Not strictly a fallacy, so much as an example of inadequate explanation, along with circularity and infinite regresses.