Difference between revisions of "Genetic fallacy"
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| − | The '''genetic fallacy''' is a logical fallacy wherein an argument is based on the circumstances of something's origin.<ref>http://www.fallacyfiles.org/genefall.html</ref> An example is arguing that [[Christian]]s should not decorate [[Christmas tree]]s because thousands of years ago such practices were performed by [[pagans]]. | + | The '''genetic fallacy''' is a [[logical fallacy]] wherein an argument is based on the circumstances of something's origin or history when that origin or history has nothing to do with the present value of that something.<ref>[http://www.fallacyfiles.org/genefall.html Fallacy Files: Genetic Fallacy]</ref> The fallacy is thus a fallacy of relevance. An example is arguing that [[Christian]]s should not decorate [[Christmas tree]]s because thousands of years ago such practices were performed by [[pagans]]. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 18:36, December 12, 2011
The genetic fallacy is a logical fallacy wherein an argument is based on the circumstances of something's origin or history when that origin or history has nothing to do with the present value of that something.[1] The fallacy is thus a fallacy of relevance. An example is arguing that Christians should not decorate Christmas trees because thousands of years ago such practices were performed by pagans.