Bad-Faith Argument
An argument made without genuine interest in truth or mutual understanding: the bad-faith arguer’s goal is to win, stall, exhaust, or deceive, not to learn.
Common tactics:
- Astroturfing: fake grassroots support
- Sea-Lioning: feigned polite questioning to exhaust
- Gish Galloping: bury the opponent in many weak claims faster than they can refute
- Just Asking Questions (JAQing): insinuation disguised as inquiry
- Whataboutism: deflect to someone else’s failing
- Strategic burden-of-proof shifting
A good-faith argument is the opposite stance: engages honestly, accepts correction, applies the Principle of Charity, shares the goal of arriving at truth. This is what Critical Thinking looks like in dialogue.
How to handle
You’re not obligated to keep engaging once you’ve identified bad faith. Naming the tactic and disengaging is often the right move.