Also known as the Continuum Fallacy, this is an effort to unfairly reject a vague claim because it is not as precise as one might like. But being vague is not the same as being hopelessly vague. This fallacy disregards differences at opposite ends of a spectrum by asserting that they are the same because there is no specific point at which one becomes the other. The name comes from the question: “How many hairs must a man have on his chin before he has a beard?” It’s not exactly clear when whiskers become a beard, but it is clear that there is a real difference between a man with whiskers and a man with a beard.



Example:

Liz: I don’t think this painting should be in a museum – it’s not art, it’s just porn.

Nancy: Artists have been painting nudes for thousands of years. Is the Sistine Chapel porn?

Liz: Well, no. The human figure can be quite beautiful. Maybe art becomes porn when the nudity is sexual.

Nancy: Well then, I guess we just need to ban Picasso, Manet, Klimt...?

Liz: I woudn’t go that far.

Nancy: Then what makes it porn?

Liz: I don’t know, I just know it when I see it.

Nancy: See, there is no real difference – it’s all art. Don’t be so close-minded