Tu Quoque and Genetic Fallacies

Week 4

Tu Quoque

• This fallacy occurs when it is concluded that a persons claim is false because– Some one said something else– What a person says is inconsistent with their

actions• Hypocrite

Example 1

• Jill: "I think the gun control bill shouldn't be supported because it won't be effective and will waste money." Bill: "Well, just last month you supported the bill. So I guess you're wrong now."

Example 2

Genetic Fallacies

• A Genetic Fallacy is a line of "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. It is also a line of reasoning in which the origin of a claim or thing is taken to be evidence for the claim or thing. This sort of "reasoning" has the following form:– The origin of a claim or thing is presented.– The claim is true(or false) or the thing is supported (or discredited).

• A fallacy in which conclusions are based from origin rather than context

example

• Accused on the 6 o'clock news of corruption and taking bribes, the senator said that we should all be very wary of the things we hear in the media, because we all know how very unreliable the media can be.

Example