Genetic fallacy
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The genetic fallacy creates a fallacious argument that is accepted or rejected based on the source of the evidence, rather than on the quality or applicability of the evidence. It is also a line of reasoning in which a perceived defect in the origin of a claim or thing is taken to be evidence that discredits the claim or thing itself. The fallacy is committed when an idea is either accepted or rejected because of its source, rather than its merit.
[edit] Form
- The origin of a claim or thing is presented.
- The claim is true(or false) or the thing is supported (or discredited).
- It is clear that sort of "reasoning" is fallacious.
Note that not there are cases where this type of argument may not be fallacious. For example, there are some cases in which the origin of a claim is relevant to the truth or falsity of the claim, such as a claim that comes from a reliable expert is likely to be true (provided it is in her area of expertise).
[edit] Examples
- "The current Chancellor of Germany was in the Hitler Youth at age 3. With that sort of background, his so called 'reform' plan must be a fascist program."
- "I was brought up to believe in a god, my parents told me a god exists, and my parents would never lie to me, so this god must exist."
- "Sure, the media claims that Senator Wales was reading pornography. But we all know about the media's credibility, don't we."
| Articles about logical fallacies | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal fallacies | |||||
| Affirming the consequent | Denying the antecedent | ||||
| Informal fallacies | |||||
| Red herrings | |||||
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Genetic fallacy | |||||
| Conditional fallacies | |||||
| Fallacious argument styles | |||||