Appeal to age

Cogito ergo sum Logic and rhetoric

Key articles

Logical fallacy Syllogism Argument

General logic

Bit Slothful induction Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur Post-designation Is–ought problem Appeal to accomplishment

Bad logic

One single proof Two wrongs make a right Appeal to novelty Bulverism Illicit process Not an argument v - t - e

Not to be confused with Appeal to ancient wisdom -- when one appeals to "knowledge" of ancient cultures instead of demonstrable facts.

An appeal to age is a fallacy in which someone's age is cited as evidence for their position being true/false. It is a subset of the genetic fallacy, and if someone's age is used against their position, it is an argumentum ad hominem (which is also a subset of a genetic fallacy).

Usually it is used to support the arguments of people who are older, and discredit arguments of younger people.

Form

P1: X holds position Y.

P2: X is old/young.
P3: If someone is old/young, their position is false.
C: Y is false.

Explanation

Although someone who is older is generally wiser and more knowledgeable, old/young people can be wrong/right. Someone who is old can still believe in bullshit, and someone who is young can still make a sound argument.

Examples

• "I've studied theology for many years, and have concluded that there is a God."
• "You're only 13, so you can't say that creationism is false."
• "You think parents shouldn't beat their kids? Back in my day, we got the belt! You Millennials/Gen Z kids are so entitled!"
• "You're just a kid."
• "American customary measurement system has been around since the Romans, unlike the johnny-come-lately Metric system, so it is proven and better!"
• "Respect your elders."

See also

• Genetic fallacy
• Argumentum ad hominem
• Appeal to ancient wisdom

Notes

This logic-related article is a stub.
You can help RationalWiki by expanding it.