"The Exception Proves the Rule"

[Duer 157099]

Remember that saying? It's one of my favorites, not least of which is because there is no obvious way to interpret what it actually means. Everyone has their own opinion about what it means and how it should be used. The most common interpretation equates "proves" with "tests" as in, the exception tests the rule, to see if it withstands the test.

The meaning that I have always favored, but that is one of the least accepted, is one that I think is perfectly illustrated with the Tucson shootings.

Let's say that it is finally shown that Loughner was indisputably NOT influenced by right-wing hate talk. I'd say that it's nearly impossible for anybody with any political/social awareness whatsoever to somehow be unaware of that rhetoric, but let's just say, for the sake of this argument, that it's so. That he was absolutely NOT AT ALL influenced by right-wing hate.

So then, he would be the exception that proves the rule. The rule being that right-wing hate speech influences people in bad ways. How do we know it's the rule? Because almost without exception, it was the first thing that EVERYBODY assumed. Right? And the fact that Loughner was NOT (hypothetical, for this case) so influenced would just validate the rule as a rule.

I rarely find anyone who can understand my interpretation of this. Does it make sense to anybody here?

[robinlynne]

1. yep.

[On the Road]

2. I Had Always Heard That "Prove"

was used in the sense of "test," like a proving ground. An exception to the rule thus tests the rule and perhaps finds it wanting.

However, apparently the term has a legal background, and refers to individuals granted an exception to a certain law or rule.

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-exc1.htm

It's therefor completely misapplied every time I've ever seen it used.

[Duer 157099]

3. It is an interesting saying isn't it?

The argument he makes at that link sort of affirms what I'm saying in a way, although superficially, it seems he addresses what I'm saying in the beginning of his article (which he discounts as illogical): that the existence of the exception proves the validity of the rule.

“Parking prohibited on Sundays” ------> "Loughner not influenced by right-wing hate speech"

The exception proves the rule. In the first case, the rule is that parking is NOT prohibited the other days. In the latter case, the rule is that right-wing hate speech influences people in bad ways.

[ZombieHorde]

4. The saying is stupid and should be abandoned. nt