Apr 3, 2015: A Clear Lens: Funsized Fallacies: Genetic Fallacy
According to author Mark B. Woodhouse, the genetic fallacy is that which “occurs whenever someone assesses the value of a view or practice on the basis of the origins (genesis) of the view or practice.” In other words, if Peter tries to argue that drinking Coca Cola is bad because it was originally invented to cure headaches, he is committing a genetic fallacy. Just because the recipe for Coca Cola formulated out of mistaken thinking does not inveigh against its current value or benefit.
According to author Mark B. Woodhouse, the genetic fallacy is that which “occurs whenever someone assesses the value of a view or practice on the basis of the origins (genesis) of the view or practice.” In other words, if Peter tries to argue that drinking Coca Cola is bad because it was originally invented to cure headaches, he is committing a genetic fallacy. Just because the recipe for Coca Cola formulated out of mistaken thinking does not inveigh against its current value or benefit.
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Mark Woodhouse, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Georgia State University. He teaches courses in the history of philosophy, metaphysics, consciousness studies, Eastern thought, parapsychology, and the New Paradigm literature on levels ranging from freshman to doctoral. He has authored over thirty articles in mainstream professional and leading edge journals, and is the recipient of two post-doctoral fellowships for advanced study at Brown University and UC-Berkeley.
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