Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy

The Texas sharpshooter fallacy is one of the many smokescreens that are used to cover the fact that the reasoning is based on one of the three fallacies of Agrippa's trilemma. Whenever a logical fallacy is committed, the fallacy has its roots in Agrippa's trilemma. All human thought (without Divine revelation) is based on one of three unhappy possibilities. These three possibilities are infinite regress, circular reasoning, or axiomatic thinking. This problem is known as Agrippa's trilemma. Some have claimed that only logic and math can be known without Divine revelation; however, that is not true. There is no reason to trust either logic or math without Divine revelation. Science is also limited to the pragmatic because of the weakness on human reasoning, which is known as Agrippa's trilemma.

The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy occurs when cherry-picked data, observations, quotes, etc. are selected and used to support a proposition. A clustering of data may be random or may come from a cause other than the cause that is credited with the effect. It is normal to ignore random chance when results seem meaningful, especially when there is a chance to confirm what you already believe. There is a need for further testing before jumping to conclusions. In addition, it is good to keep Agrippa's Trilemma in mind.

One other thing to keep in mind is the fact that what seems so be coincidence is also nothing of the kind. You may ask how this is so. By Divine revelation, it is known that God is in control of everything ultimately as we move toward the completion of all things at the end of the Ages of the Ages. Nothing comes into your life by chance. There is no such thing as luck.

Examples of the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy

A farmer takes a bunch of random shots at his barn, paints a target around the biggest concentration of bullet holes, and then claims to be a "Texas sharpshooter."

The Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story is supported only by infinite regression, circular reasoning, and unsupported assertions as Agrippa's Trilemma operates. However, the illusion of evidence is created by multiple uses of the Texas sharpshooter fallacy.

Wherever people are searching for meaning, purpose, and answer to difficult questions, if they are searching with human wisdom rather than by listening to the Holy Spirit, you will find the Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy.