+493 "It's the way we've always done it" is not a good enough reason to continue doing so, amirite?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I dunno where I heard this, nothing's coming up when I Google it, but not my original idea.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

it's the Is-Ought fallacy.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Why not? If that's the way it's been done for so long then its most likely successful and what reason could you have for changing a working system. There are obviously always exceptions when you don't give a specific context though.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

But if it works, you continue doing it because it works, and not because it's how it's always been done. There's a difference there. They're saying that if that's the only reason, it's not a good one.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah, but if the system is successful, that would be the reason not the change it - because it's a tradition is not a good reason, but because it is still effective and works in the modern day would count as a good reason.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Typewriters work just fine. Why should we switch to these silly electronic computer thingies? Who really needs the backspace key anyway?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Haha. And, it does work both ways - "It's new and original" is not a good enough reason to change.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

EXACTLY, which is why I should be allowed to be a canibal.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Like having sex without condoms. That's the lesson people will be telling their kids. Their many, many aids infected kids.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I found the fallacies: Appeal to Tradition/Appeal to Antiquity - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_tradition Appeal to Novelty/Appeal to Youth - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_novelty

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Circular logic!

by Anonymous 12 years ago