Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Tradition / Argumentum Ad Antiquitatem / Appeal to Common Practice / Appeal to Antiquity / Proof from Tradition / Appeal to Past Practice / Gadarene Swine Fallacy / Traditional Wisdom

The logical fallacy of appeal to tradition occurs when past practice or tradition is used as a truth statement rather than an actual truth statement. This is reasoning that asks us to believe something to be true simply because it is “the way that things are done.” There are times when it makes sense to follow a tradition, particularly family traditions. However, traditions never prove truth.

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Appeal to Tradition / Argumentum Ad Antiquitatem / Appeal to Common Practice / Appeal to Antiquity / Proof from Tradition / Appeal to Past Practice / Gadarene Swine Fallacy / Traditional Wisdom

Sandy: "This is how we have always done church. We have a democratic board that hires a preacher. We hold our services the way that the liturgy directs. We have a rock and roll service for young people and a traditional service for older people. That’s how it’s done."

Rocky: "But what does God say through Scripture?"

Rocky is questioning whether the church is following the orders and patterns laid out in Scripture. Sandy is using the logical fallacy of appeal to tradition.

“Marriage between a man and a woman is the tradition and has been for thousands of years. For this reason, we cannot allow gay marriage.”

This is stated so poorly that it works against the truth. It is true that gay marriage ought not to be allowed, but tradition is not a rational reason and anyone who uses such an argument muddies the water. God defines what marriage is, and God says that marriage is a loving, life-long commitment between a man and a woman. That is the reason. God speaks to us through the Bible and He tells us. He created us to walk into the absolute fullness of life in a certain pattern and order. The order and pattern of the home in integral to that. Anything that conflicts with God’s pattern and order is disgusting to God.

“Look, everyone on the faculty believes in evolution. If they don’t believe, they keep their mouths shut. This goes way back. You aren't going to change it. Don't make waves.”

This may be more of a warning, in which case, it is not a logical fallacy to state it. The attitude among the evolution-believers is fallacious, though, since evolution is being pushed as truth merely because of a tradition.

Then there are the people who go to church and get involved in religion, not because they have come to know Jesus Christ but rather because that is the way that they were raised.