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j._n._spoilsport

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J. N. Spoilsport

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J. N. Spoilsport in 2012.

J. N. Spoilsport is a philosopher, scholar, public intellectual and the founder of Slow Club. Known for controversial views and uncompromising demeanor, Spoilsport rules with an iron hand, instills sophistry and pedantry everywhere he goes, and is responsible for expelling at least 5 key members of Slow Club, including Mr. Porridge.

When debating time travel, Spoilsport came out as a woman in order to win an argument. Interestingly enough, although his gender was indeed confirmed as female, he continues to mostly address himself as a “he”.

Key beliefs

  • algebraic knowledge is irrelevant, because there are no identical objects
  • a perfect line can exist in an imperfect world
  • something is possible, unless proven otherwise

The latter point commits an informal logic fallacy known as argument from ignorance (argumentum ad ignorantiam). Obviously, at the very least there is a second option possible: something might, in fact, be impossible, while we are limited in our current ability to demonstrate it. Spoilsport argues that this may well be a fallacy in pure logic, but it could be a pragmatic course of action in cases where failure to act is deadly. A number of philosophers do not dispute this point, but object to Spoilsport's use of the more generic statement “something is possible, unless proven otherwise” as incorrect in general terms, to which Spoilsport countered that the statement is not universal, but merely denotes the possibility. The dispute is ongoing.

Controversies

J. N. Spoilsport has stirred a number of controversies. His rivalry with

j._n._spoilsport.1512169459.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/12/01 18:04 by lverona