Genetic Fallacy
Judging a claim as good or bad based on its origin rather than its actual merits.
- informal
The genetic fallacy evaluates a claim, idea, or thing by where it came from — its source, history, or origin — instead of its current content or evidence. A sound idea from a disreputable source is still sound; a bad idea from a respected source is still bad.
Examples
- “That theory came out of wartime propaganda research, so it can't tell us anything useful.”
- “She only opposes the merger because she grew up poor and resents big companies.”
Why it works & how to counter
Persuasive because origins do sometimes signal reliability. Counter it by separating where an idea came from from whether the idea itself holds up to evidence.