The logical fallacy of kicking a stone to end a debate
In short: Imagine trying to argue against the existence of matter. You could spend years in complex philosophy, or you could simply kick a rock. This physical act became the namesake for a logical fallacy where an argument is dismissed as absurd without providing any evidence to back up the rejection.
The 'appeal to the stone' (argumentum ad lapidem) occurs when someone declares an argument untrue or ridiculous without offering a counter-argument. It is an informal fallacy, meaning the error lies in the content of the reasoning rather than its structure. Because it lacks evidence, it is closely tied to 'proof by assertion,' where a claim is presented as fact simply because it is stated confidently. The term originates from a famous 18th-century encounter between Dr. Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. They were discussing Bishop Berkeley's theory of subjective idealism, which posits that reality depends on perception and that material objects are intertwined with our senses. Boswell noted that while they agreed the doctrine was untrue, it was nearly impossible to refute. Johnson responded by striking his foot against a large stone and declaring, 'I refute it thus.' While some see this as a mere stunt, others argue it was a subtle point: it was absurd to call a tangible stone 'immaterial' when it could be physically kicked.
In modern logic, this fallacy is often paired with 'irrelevant conclusions,' where a speaker provides evidence for a conclusion they have already decided on rather than addressing the actual topic. It creates a conversational dead end by placing the entire burden of proof on the initial speaker. Without 'warrants' or 'backing'—the logical bridges and evidence required by frameworks like Toulmin's—the appeal to the stone shuts down dialogue, often leading to 'ad nauseam' repetition where parties argue until they are simply bored.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Appeal to the stone
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