Concept · Cognitive Bias: Informal fallacies of relevance
Genetic fallacy
Origin: Cohen & Nagel, 1934
Biological Parallel
Brood parasites like cowbirds are raised by host species but still develop species-typical behaviors—cowbird song, mating displays, and migration patterns emerge despite being raised by sparrows or warblers. Origin (host nest) doesn't determine validity (species identity). The genetic fallacy—dismissing ideas based on their source rather than merit—exploits our tendency to essentialize origins. Evolutionarily, tracking lineage was adaptive (kin recognition, coalition membership), but this heuristic fails when transferred from genetic ancestry to idea ancestry.