There is no RationalWiki without you. We are a small non-profit with no staff—we are hundreds of volunteers who document pseudoscience and crankery around the world every day. We will never allow ads because we must remain independent. We cannot rely on big donors with corresponding big agendas. We are not the largest website around, but we believe we play an important role in defending truth and objectivity. |
Fighting pseudoscience isn't free. We are 100% user-supported! Help and donate $5, $10, $20 or whatever you can today with ![]() ![]() |
Gambit
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
A gambit is something that is calculated to gain a later advantage given an initial risk. In logic, a gambit is a fallacy based on a false premise. In other words, it is taking the risk of lying in the beginning in order to win the argument.
Types of gambits we cover[edit]
Gambit might refer to:
- Galileo gambit — if your ideas provoke the establishment to vilify or threaten you, you must be right
- Just a theory — relies on lying about the meaning of "theory" in order to discredit the theory. It is usually used against the theory of evolution by creationists.
- Pathos gambit — one debater falsely claims that their opponent is using emotional arguments rather than factual arguments
- Science was wrong before
- Semmelweis gambit — a synonym of the Galileo gambit that is used in alternative medicine
- Shill gambit — one party dismisses the other's arguments by proclaiming them to be on the payroll of some agency