§   DEFINITION

Tradition – promoting ideas simply because others have done so in the past.
 

In making an appeal to tradition, an arguer assumes that what has existed for a long time (and has therefore become tradition) should continue to exist simply because it is “tradition.”  We chase Easter eggs in the spring, Frisbees in the summer, and jack-o-lanterns in the fall, simply because our Easter, Fourth of July, and Halloween traditions tell us to.  Nobody seems to make a ham for Independence Day … because we are supposed to barbecue.  It’s just tradition.

Traditions are necessary, and Americans probably need many more of them!  However, we are silly to do something that we don’t want to do only because it is traditionally done.  The author bears the responsibility in a persuasive essay to prove why a tradition should be continued (or not).  Appeals to tradition typically rely on two other fallacies: the appeal to ignorance, and circular reasoning.
 

EXAMPLE

Grandma, on Thanksgiving Day: “I made everybody’s favorite — cranberry sauce!”

Family: “Ohhh.  Grandma, nobody ever eats that stuff.  Why do you still make it?”

Grandma: “It’s tradition, silly.  Now eat it up!”

This example comes from a former student.  I think it explains itself.