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Moving the goalposts

Changing the standard of proof after the original standard has been met.

Published 04 August 2026Updated 04 August 2026

Moving the goalposts protects a claim from challenge by demanding new or stronger evidence whenever the stated requirement is satisfied. Agree on relevant success criteria in advance and explain openly if new information genuinely requires revising them.

Sources

Fallacies (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy / 2024 / Website

Canonical philosophical treatment of fallacy types.