Question

What is the fallacy called where Nothing a liar said can be true (i.e., false in most things, false in everything)?

For example, consider that 99% of something someone said is false, but 1% of the time, they speak the truth. As a result, it is argued that the 1% of truth is actually false (and cannot be accepted - even from a non-liar) because it came out of the mouth of the liar.

Answer 1

The fallacy of diversion or red herring fallacy, is when an arguer presents irrelevant evidence to establish their conclusion. This fallacy diverts attention from the truth of the statement by focusing on the source. It is important to evaluate statements based on their merits and evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fallacy you are referring to is known as the 'fallacy of diversion' or 'red herring fallacy.' This fallacy occurs when an arguer presents evidence that is not relevant to logically establishing their conclusion. In the example you provided, even though the liar may speak falsely most of the time, it does not mean that the 1% of the time they speak the truth is automatically false.

This fallacy diverts the attention from evaluating the truth of the statement itself by focusing on the source of the statement. It is important to evaluate statements based on their merits and evidence rather than dismissing them solely because they come from a particular source or person.