Appeal to age

Cogito ergo sum
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Not to be confused with Appeal to ancient wisdom -- when one appeals to "knowledge" of ancient cultures instead of demonstrable facts.

An appeal to age is a fallacy in which someone's age is cited as evidence for their position being true/false. It is a subset of the genetic fallacy, and if someone's age is used against their position, it is an argumentum ad hominem (which is also a subset of a genetic fallacy).

Usually it is used to support the arguments of people who are older, and discredit arguments of younger people.

Form

P1: X holds position Y.
P2: X is old/young.
P3: If someone is old/young, their position is false.
C: Y is false.

Explanation

Although someone who is older is generally wiser and more knowledgeable, old/young people can be wrong/right. Someone who is old can still believe in bullshit, and someone who is young can still make a sound argument.[note 1]

Examples

  • "I've studied theology for many years, and have concluded that there is a God."
  • "You're only 13, so you can't say that creationism is false."
  • "You think parents shouldn't beat their kids? Back in my day, we got the belt! You Millennials/Gen Z kids are so entitled!"
  • "You're just a kid."
  • "American customary measurement system has been around since the Romans, unlike the johnny-come-lately Metric system, so it is proven and better!"
  • "Respect your elders."

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Also, old people can lose some of their thinking capacity in their twilight years, and old people tend to be more set in their ways and unwilling to change their minds if their current position is debunked.[citation needed]
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