Spanish idiom for 'Moving the Goalposts fallacy' ??

Question

The moving the goalposts logical fallacy is very useful in a debate to describe a situation a person tries to squeem out of their position into another that is slightly similar but fundamentally different to get on more comfortable ground.

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Moving_the_goalposts

Is there a Spanish equivalent? I need it for a debate :3

Edit: I imagine there is an equivalent but if there is none can a native speaker create one that would make sense to a Spanish speaker who's never heard it before? Perhaps using the same words?

A native speaker please who knows philosophy

This post is closed. Kingdonshawn, if you do not agree with the answers, it's ok to say so, but not to continue to argue about it within the form. Please send your comments of this nature to the person, via PM. I am saying to all involved here, please - rac1, Jun 3, 2017

let's keep this friendly. When it becomes heated to the point it has, stop and discuss the problems you're having via pm and not within the form. Thank you all. - rac1, Jun 3, 2017

This thread is closed. - rac1, Jun 3, 2017

Answer 1

I am a native Spanish speaker. My philosophy knowledge is only from high.school Apart from that I don't understand the idiom "moving the goalposts" very well.

When Dani said it could be "cambiar las reglas del juego" it's an expression we use very much . I don't know if it adapts to the English idiom.

I have heard that something is "un falso silogismo" We studied this in Logic but I don't know if it could be like the English idiom.
Maybe you could just say: "Lo que se dice es una falacia".
Sorry, neither did I understand all the dialogs and discussions here. Hope everything gets better for everybody.

Please feel free to correct my English. It might help me a lot.

Answer 2

The moving the goalposts logical fallacy is very useful in a debate to describe a situation a person tries to squeem out of their position into another that is slightly similar but fundamentally different to get on more comfortable ground http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Moving_the_goalposts Is there a Spanish equivalent? I need it for a debate :3 Edit: I imagine there is an equivalent but if there is none can a native speaker create one that would make sense to a Spanish speaker who's never heard it before? Perhaps using the same words? A native speaker please

The Oxford English / Spanish dictionary co-authored by native Spanish speakers gives:

Cambiar las reglas de juego = Move the goalposts

I hope this helps

I don't want it to refer to the 'game' unless it is an understood idiom that means it references to something more macro. Quiza 'cambiar las reglas de su argumento?' - kingdonshawn, Jun 3, 2017

It doesn't - kingdonshawn, Jun 3, 2017

Kingston, it is an idiom which I believe has a much wider application than literal and specific rules of a game, but I believe that you are interpreting it too literally! - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

Feliz, don't worry, you "nailed" it. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

However, if you are not satisfied with my answer because you feel it doesn't answer your question precisely enough, you are welcome to wait for a native speaker like Daniela, Raff, Polenta, Astotxua or one of our other natives to answer it for you! - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

Thank you, Dani :) - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

Ningún problema,mate. :) - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Would still prefer it in logical fallacy form and not simply an everyday expression, although it does have wide meaning it seems - kingdonshawn, Jun 3, 2017

I do not undrrstand exactly what you mean in practice by fallacy arguements ...please explain! Daniela is not only native Spanish speaker (hispanohablante) but also a Spanish teacher and has given the same answer to confirm the one i gave you, but stil - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

you are not satisfied.I am not sure that the other natives will understand what you mean by the term 'fallacy argument' either You should explain this in your post and not assume we are familiar with the implications of such expressions - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

What do you mean by logical fallacy form? I understand the individual words but not the meaning or implication! What does this logical fallacy form look like/ sound like I have never ever heard this expression before in the UK! - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

Answer 3

"Cambiar las reglas del juego" es una expresión bien conocida dondequiera que se habla español. Se usa figuradamente y con mucha frecuencia.

En otras palabras, si al mercado accionario le está yendo bien, no deberíamos cambiar las reglas del juego a las que se atribuye este éxito.

In other words, if the stock market is doing well, we should not change the rules of the game that are credited for this success.

El Parlamento Europeo debe adoptar una posición por principios, a saber, que no se pueden cambiar las reglas del juego sobre la marcha.

The European Parliament must adopt a position on principle, which is that the rules of the game cannot be changed midway.

Dani, in your example it gives Cambiar las reglas deL juego but in my Dictionary only De juego, is my dictionary wrong, please or are both forms correct? - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

Dani, I think you may have a typo dondequIera ;) - FELIZ77, Jun 3, 2017

I prefer "del" it seem more logical. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Fixed the typo, gracias.--but I made another typo in my comment to you. I forgot the "s" in seems. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Could I have an example where it's used as a form of fallacy and not simply as changing the rules of the game - kingdonshawn, Jun 3, 2017

I'm adding examples in an edit. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Just in case you haven't checked my profile, I am from Spain and currently employed as a professor of Spanish in a Community college. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Answer 4

your answer