◆ The Codex · 12 of 16
Tu quoque
Dismissing a criticism because the critic is guilty of it too.
Also known as
Appeal to hypocrisyWhataboutismYou too fallacy
The shape of the move
A criticises B for X. B points out that A also does X. Therefore the criticism is dismissed.
What is the tu quoque fallacy?
Tu quoque ("you too") deflects an argument by pointing out the critic's hypocrisy. But hypocrisy doesn't make a criticism wrong — a smoker who warns you about smoking is still right.
On a national scale it's often called whataboutism: answering criticism of one country or group by pointing to another's failings.
Examples
Everyday
“You're telling me to stop eating junk food? You eat chips every day.”
Why it fails: The advice is still sound regardless of who gives it.
Politics
“Why criticise our corruption? Their party is just as corrupt.”
Why it fails: Another party's corruption doesn't excuse this one.
In a debate
“You say I should recycle — you drive an SUV.”
Why it fails: The SUV doesn't make recycling less important.
Why it feels convincing
Hypocrisy feels unfair, and pointing it out feels like winning. It shifts attention from the criticism to the critic.
Spot it: 'You do it too' is offered as if it answered the charge.
In the arena
If you’re about to commit it
- Answer the criticism on its merits first.
- If hypocrisy is relevant, say why it changes the argument.
- Remember: both of you can be wrong.
Instead of
“You can't talk about emissions — your country pollutes more.”
Try
“You're right that our emissions are rising. My point is that per person they're a third of yours, so the cuts should be shared fairly.”
If your opponent commits it
- Concede the hypocrisy if it's true — it costs you nothing.
- Point out it doesn't answer the criticism.
- Restate the point.
Say this
“Maybe I'm guilty too — but that doesn't make the point wrong. Is X true or not?”
When it’s not a fallacy
Pointing out inconsistency is fair when the debate is about someone's credibility or sincerity, rather than whether their claim is true.
How the Oracle scores it
In an Arguen match, every argument is scored out of 80 across Clarity, Evidence, Logic and Rebuttal. If the Oracle detects a tu quoque, it subtracts a penalty and puts the fallacy on your scorecard with the exact quote and a one-sentence explanation — so you see precisely where the chain snapped.
Frequently asked questions
Is whataboutism the same as tu quoque?
They're closely related. Whataboutism is a broader deflection to someone else's wrongs; tu quoque specifically targets the critic's own behaviour.
What does tu quoque mean?
Latin for "you too" or "you also".