Genetic fallacy
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The genetic fallacy is a logical fallacy based on the irrelevant appraisal of something based on its origin.
It occurs when one attempts to reduce the significance of an idea, person, practice, or institution merely to an account of its origin (genesis) or earlier form. This overlooks any difference to be found in the present situation, typically transferring the positive or negative esteem from the earlier context.
It also fails to assess ideas on their merits. The first criterion of a good argument is that the premises must have bearing on the truth or falsity of the claim in question. Since the origin of a thing has no necessary relevance to its merit, an argument that uses such a premise for accepting or rejecting a claim about the thing in question should be regarded as flawed.
In terms of categorization, the genetic fallacy is a fallacy of irrelevance.
According to the Oxford Companion to Philosophy, the term originates in Morris Cohen and Ernest Nagel's book Logic and Scientific Method.
Examples
- "You're not going to wear a wedding ring, are you? Don't you know that the wedding ring originally symbolized ankle chains worn by women to prevent them from running away from their husbands? I would not have thought you would be a party to such a sexist practice."
These alleged sexist origins do not make anyone who wears a wedding ring sexist.
- Isaac Newton is said to have been led to his theory of gravity by his interest in the occult, specifically the concept of "action at a distance". This does not mean anyone who believes in gravity is a follower of the occult, and his theories have since been scientifically tested.
See also
- Reductio ad Hitlerum, a specific example of the genetic fallacy
External links
- Nizkor: Genetic fallacy
- Fallacies of relevance: Genetic fallacy from atheism web
- Forms of the genetic fallacy
- Fallacy files: Genetic fallacyhe:כשל גנטי
lt:Apeliavimas į kilmę fi:Geneettinen virhepäätelmä sv:Genetisk argumentation