A Genetic Fallacy?
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Original Question
Let's say I'm discussing a very well known test of gravity such as the Cavendish Experiment. It is very well understood, is performed by physics students in lab classes every semester, and has scientific consensus.
The rebuttal is something like:
"if you didn't perform it yourself then you can't say the results are accurate or even real"
It is a genetic fallacy to say you weren't there so you can't know?
Answers
1I would say that it is a false statement more than anything. This claim assumes that the average person is better at conducting a scientific experiment and interpreting data than people who do this for a living, which is not the case.
As for the genetic fallacy , I do think one can make a good argument that this also applies.
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