Chronological snobbery
Encyclopedia
Chronological snobbery, a term coined by friends C. S. Lewis
and Owen Barfield
, is a logical argument (and usually when thus termed, considered an outright fallacy
) describing the erroneous argument that the thinking, art, or science of an earlier time is inherently inferior when compared to that of the present. As Barfield explains it, it is the belief that "intellectually, humanity languished for countless generations in the most childish errors on all sorts of crucial subjects, until it was redeemed by some simple scientific dictum of the last century." The subject came up between them when Barfield had converted to Anthroposophy
and was persuading Lewis (an atheist at that time) to join him. One of Lewis's objections was that religion was simply outdated, and in Surprised by Joy
(chapter 13, p. 207-208) he describes how this was fallacious:
The usage in general of the word "medieval" to mean "backwards" is also an example -- as is the use of the term "backwards" to mean "unsophisticated."
G. B. Tennyson in his book Owen Barfield: Man and Meaning offers the following firsthand account:
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
and Owen Barfield
Owen Barfield
Owen Barfield was a British philosopher, author, poet, and critic.Barfield was born in London. He was educated at Highgate School and Wadham College, Oxford and in 1920 received a 1st class degree in English language and literature. After finishing his B. Litt., which became the book Poetic...
, is a logical argument (and usually when thus termed, considered an outright fallacy
Fallacy
In logic and rhetoric, a fallacy is usually an incorrect argumentation in reasoning resulting in a misconception or presumption. By accident or design, fallacies may exploit emotional triggers in the listener or interlocutor , or take advantage of social relationships between people...
) describing the erroneous argument that the thinking, art, or science of an earlier time is inherently inferior when compared to that of the present. As Barfield explains it, it is the belief that "intellectually, humanity languished for countless generations in the most childish errors on all sorts of crucial subjects, until it was redeemed by some simple scientific dictum of the last century." The subject came up between them when Barfield had converted to Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development...
and was persuading Lewis (an atheist at that time) to join him. One of Lewis's objections was that religion was simply outdated, and in Surprised by Joy
Surprised by Joy
Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life is a partial autobiography published by C. S. Lewis in 1955. Specifically the book describes the author's conversion to Christianity which had taken place 24 years earlier.-Overview :...
(chapter 13, p. 207-208) he describes how this was fallacious:
Pattern
The form of the chronological snobbery fallacy can be expressed as follows:- It is argued that A.
- A is an old argument, dating back to the times when people also believed B.
- B is clearly false.
- Therefore, A is false.
Examples
C. S. Lewis in Surprised by Joy (Chapter 13, p. 206) recounts his story:The usage in general of the word "medieval" to mean "backwards" is also an example -- as is the use of the term "backwards" to mean "unsophisticated."
G. B. Tennyson in his book Owen Barfield: Man and Meaning offers the following firsthand account:
See also
- Historian's fallacyHistorian's fallacyThe historian's fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when one assumes that decision makers of the past viewed events from the same perspective and having the same information as those subsequently analyzing the decision...
- Presentism (literary and historical analysis)Presentism (literary and historical analysis)Presentism is a mode of literary or historical analysis in which present-day ideas and perspectives are anachronistically introduced into depictions or interpretations of the past...
- Whig historyWhig historyWhig history is the approach to historiography which presents the past as an inevitable progression towards ever greater liberty and enlightenment, culminating in modern forms of liberal democracy and constitutional monarchy. In general, Whig historians stress the rise of constitutional government,...
- Genetic fallacyGenetic fallacyThe genetic fallacy is a fallacy of irrelevance where a conclusion is suggested based solely on something or someone's origin rather than its current meaning or context. This overlooks any difference to be found in the present situation, typically transferring the positive or negative esteem from...