“Appeal to Tradition”
Always Has Always Will
What is Appeal to Tradition?
Assuming that a method or idea is superior because it remained popular or successful through time.
Business Application
If something has been going right for an extended period but a concept stands to disrupt its effectiveness, it is very important to give it consideration. Closely examine the prevailing system and explore why things have been going right and what the new idea can potentially affect.
Example
William Orton, President of Western Union, when offered the chance to purchase the patent on Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone:
“What use could this company make of an electrical toy?”
Why This is a Fallacy
There are certainly universal truths that exist in the world and can resonate through millennia. But circumstances change over time. Relying on traditional ideas, tactics, or processes can close one’s mind toward innovation and leave them vulnerable to decay.
