What is bulverism?

Bulverism is a rhetorical fallacy coined by C.S. Lewis in his 1941 essay, "Bulverism". It's a method of discrediting an argument by psychoanalyzing the arguer, assuming their argument is invalid due to why they hold that belief, rather than addressing the argument's actual merits.

Essentially, it involves assuming that someone's belief is wrong and then explaining why they wrongly believe it. The focus shifts from proving the belief false to explaining its (alleged) psychological or social origins.

Here's a breakdown:

• Assertion: Someone makes a claim.
• Assumption of Error: Instead of addressing the claim directly, the Bulverist assumes it is wrong.
• Psychoanalysis: The Bulverist then offers an explanation for why the person holds the incorrect belief, often attributing it to psychological biases, social conditioning, or other factors.

The fallacy lies in bypassing any actual engagement with the argument itself. Even if the explanation for why someone holds a belief is accurate, it doesn't automatically make the belief itself false. The argument still needs to be addressed on its own terms.