Logically Privileged Position

A position within a debate or discourse that is granted unearned authority—not because its arguments are stronger but because it's associated with dominant institutions, cultures, or power structures. A logically privileged position gets to define the terms of debate, set the standards of evidence, determine what counts as logical. Its claims are taken seriously by default; its opponents must work twice as hard to be heard. The logically privileged position doesn't have to prove itself; it's presumed valid until proven otherwise. This privilege is invisible to those who hold it—they just think they're being logical.

Logically Privileged Position Example: "In the debate, his position was logically privileged: he spoke from a prestigious university, cited mainstream sources, used familiar frameworks. Her position, from a marginalized community, using alternative sources, was constantly questioned. The privilege wasn't in his arguments; it was in his position. He didn't have to work to be heard; she did."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Law of Privileged Logical Position

The principle that certain logical positions are granted unearned authority—privileged not because they're stronger but because they're associated with dominant institutions, cultures, or power structures. The Law of Privileged Logical Position argues that some arguments are taken seriously by default, others must fight to be heard. This privilege is invisible to those who hold it—they just think they're being logical. The law calls for examining why certain positions are privileged, who benefits, and what's excluded. It's the foundation of logical humility, of the recognition that your position's privilege may have nothing to do with its validity.

Example: "In every debate, his position was taken seriously by default. Hers was questioned, challenged, dismissed. The Law of Privileged Logical Position explained why: his position was privileged, associated with power, with institutions, with the mainstream. Hers wasn't. The difference wasn't logic; it was privilege. He started noticing, started questioning, started listening."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Privileged Logical Position

The systematic elaboration of privileged logical position as a framework for understanding the politics of argumentation. The Theory of Privileged Logical Position argues that logical authority is not distributed equally—that some positions are privileged by their association with dominant institutions, cultures, or power structures. It traces how this privilege operates, how it shapes discourse, how it excludes alternative positions. It doesn't claim that privileged positions are always wrong; it claims that their privilege should be examined, not assumed. The theory is the foundation of argumentative justice, of the recognition that a fair debate requires examining not just arguments but the conditions under which they're heard.

Example: "He'd thought debates were won by the better argument. The Theory of Privileged Logical Position showed him otherwise: some arguments started ahead, some started behind. The playing field wasn't level; the scales were tipped by privilege. He stopped assuming his arguments won because they were better and started asking why they were privileged."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theorem of Privileged Logical Position

A specific proposition within the broader theory of privileged logical position: that once a logical position is established as privileged, it tends to reproduce its privilege by defining the terms of what counts as logical. The theorem argues that privilege is self-reinforcing: the privileged position sets the standards by which all positions are judged, ensuring that it always appears superior. This is not conspiracy but structure—the rules of argument are set by those who already dominate. The Theorem of Privileged Logical Position explains why marginalized arguments struggle for a hearing, why alternatives always seem "illogical" to those in power.

Theorem of Privileged Logical Position Example: "He wondered why his arguments, though strong, were never taken seriously. The Theorem of Privileged Logical Position explained: the standards of logic were set by those already in power. His arguments were judged by rules designed to exclude them. He stopped trying to meet those standards and started challenging them."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026