Genetic fallacy

{{logicnav}}{{hatnote|Not to be confused with [[genetics]] or [[biological determinism]].}}
A '''genetic fallacy''' is a [[logical fallacy]] that occurs when a claim is accepted or rejected based on the irrelevant ''source'' of the [[evidence]], rather than on the quality or applicability of the evidence.<ref>https://iep.utm.edu/fallacy/#Genetic</ref> It is also a line of [[deductive reasoning|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.

==Form==
Most common:
{{syl
|2='''X''' said '''Y''' is true.
|4='''X''' is a good/bad source.
|5=C|6='''Y''' is not necessarily false/true.
}}

Less common (except on the Internet, where it is more common):
{{syl
|2='''X''' said '''Y''' is true.
|4='''X''' is a good/bad source.
|5=C|6='''Y''' is true/false.
}}

"[[Second-option bias]]" form:
{{syl
|2='''X''' said '''Y''' is true.
|4='''X''' is a bad source.
|5=C|6=Anti-'''Y''' is true.
}}

Claim-maker is smart/intellectual:
{{syl
|2='''X''' said '''Y''' is true.
|4='''X''' is an intellectual/is smart.
|5=C|6='''Y''' is true.
}}
This obviously ignores the possibility that '''X''' is abusing his intellect to lie.

==Exceptions==
===Bayesian===
The genetic fallacy is a logical fallacy but is frequently not a [[Bayesian]] one: some sources are so consistently full of it that pointing this out reasonably constitutes a refutation for all practical purposes (''e.g.'', [[Scopie's law]]). If something is [[bullshit]] 99.9% of the time, it may not be worth investigating &mdash; especially when there are more trustworthy sources or pressing issues available.

'''Example:''' If [[Andrew Wakefield]] were to write a paper on anything, it can be easily dismissed.

===Extreme distortion of reality===
{{cquote|You just can’t argue with those who think [[Nazi analogies|Nazis]] or [[Apartheid|apartheiders]] were left-wing progressives. They have no interest in discussion or debate. If you try anyway, they will kick you out of your own spaces and denounce you as a [[Cultural Marxist]].|||
—[[User:Brendan Rizzo|Brendan Rizzo]]<ref>This is a parody of a claim made in the comments section of the video [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufT7wgWr3rM  “Tolkien on Politics”]], in which one commenter used very similar logic to argue that progressives are all irrational [[SJW]]s. A different comment went so far as to literally claim [[Not even wrong|that apartheid is a progressive ideology]] solely because [[Association fallacy|both demand radical changes to society]], despite such logic being equivalent to “Apples are fruit. Bananas are fruit. Therefore apples are bananas.”</ref>}}

This exception mostly only can apply to [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust deniers]] and [[Stalin apologetics|Stalin apologists]]. To deny the Holocaust or Stalin's purges requires dismissing overwhelming proof in favor of personal ideology, such that everything a Holocaust denier or tankie would say is probably filtered through a completely distorted view of [[reality]]. Someone believing in multiple conspiracy theories or a [[unified conspiracy theory]] is also likely to have a completely distorted view of reality.

Being "[[pro-life]]", an [[Anti-vaccination movement|anti-vaxxer]], member of [[PETA]] or [[global warming denialist]], or even [[Alt-lite|someone on the alt-right who isn't a Holocaust denier]], is '''not''' grounds for dismissing that person out of hand for having an extremely distorted view on reality. It’s important to avoid doing so anyway, because fundamentalists use precisely the same reasoning to dismiss any argument by those outside their religion, since they believe the truth of their religion is self-evident and obvious to everyone. Overuse of this exception can lead one into the [[fallacy of opposition]].

==Examples==
===Aristotle===
{{syl
|2=[[Aristotle]] believed that {{wpl|Empedocles#Cosmogony|Empedocles's idea of "survival of the fittest"}} was wrong.
|4=Aristotle was right on a ton of other stuff and is a really important thinker in the history philosophical thought.
|5=C|6=Aristotle is right on this too.
}}

===David Icke===
{{syl
|2=[[David Icke]] believes that the [[Flat Earth|Earth is flat]].
|4=David Icke is a grade-A [[crank]] and pioneer of the International Reptilain Conspiracy and is completely [[Insanity|insane]].
|5=C|6= Flat Earth is incorrect.
}}

===Miscellaneous===
* "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 watching [[pornography]], but we all know about the media's credibility, don't we?"

===Comic===
[[File:Can't fool me!.jpg|center|250px]]

{{quotebox|"The thing you said made me feel bad, so I don't think it's true and I don't think you're a nice person."

The firefighter sighed and raised the megaphone to her mouth. "Sir, you probably feel bad because you're inhaling a lot of smoke. Your house is on fire and you need to come to the window and go down the ladder with me now."

But the homeowner knew in his heart that he was a good person and a smart person and the kind of person who would never accidentally leave the stove on and drop a handtowel onto the burner. That just wasn't in character for him.<ref>http://www.crustaceansingles.com/2016/02/cant-fool-me.html</ref>}}

==External links==
*[http://www.fallacyfiles.org/genefall.html The Genetic Fallacy], [[Fallacy Files]]
*[http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/#Genetic Genetic], Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
*[http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/skepticism/blfaq_fall_genetic.htm Genetic Fallacy], Atheism/Agnosticism About.com
*[https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/genetic Your logical fallacy is genetic], [[YLFI]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{logfal}}

[[Category:Genetic fallacies| ]]

Categories: Genetic fallacies