Nirvana Fallacy
What is Nirvana Fallacy?
Nirvana fallacy’s argument is a logical fallacy that occurs when the conclusion of an argument refers to a perfect world where all conditions are favorable and there are no trade-offs. It is a logical error in which an argument is based on the assumption that if something were to be perfect, it would be possible for all people to have what they want.
For example, it can be seen in economic arguments: “We should reduce taxes because it will increase revenue.”
However, this statement assumes that if taxes were reduced, everyone would work more hours and pay more tax without any other consequences such as increased unemployment or decreased spending power on goods and services, leading to less tax revenue being generated in the long run.
Nirvana Fallacy Examples
Nirvana Fallacy Examples & Vegan
The Nirvana fallacy is the idea that if something can’t be perfect, it’s not worth doing.
In this example, a vegan argues that because animals are killed for meat and dairy products, all animal products should be avoided to avoid contributing to the death of any more animals.
This argument relies on the assumption that there is no way to produce enough food without killing some animals – which may or may not be true depending on how you see things – but does not take into account other ways of getting protein from plants like soybeans and beans.
Nirvana Fallacy Examples & Gun Control
The argument from the Nirvana fallacy is a type of false dichotomy that argues that because we cannot guarantee complete safety, it is better to do nothing at all.
It has been used in the context of gun control by those who argue against stricter regulations on guns and gun ownership, claiming that even if such laws were enacted, they would not stop criminals from obtaining firearms illegally and committing crimes with them anyway.
This reasoning ignores the fact that there are still many ways to reduce the number of deaths caused by guns without eliminating their availability altogether or preventing law-abiding citizens from owning them legally for self-defense purposes or hunting game animals.
Nirvana Fallacy Examples & Economics
In economics, this fallacy can take place when someone argues that because everyone could theoretically live in economic equality and happiness without any poverty or inequality, we should strive for such a society.
This argument ignores the reality of tradeoffs between different goals and values.