Personal Incredulity Fallacy

If you have difficulty understanding how or why something is true, that doesn’t automatically mean the thing in question is false.

Kirk drew a picture of a fish and a human and with effusive disdain asked Richard if he really thought we were stupid enough to believe that a fish somehow turned into a human through just, like, random things happening over time.

Redressing the fallacy

Some things are hard to understand and require a lot of work to learn about, and we don’t always have the luxury of time to investigate. Some things are difficult to believe because they are so surprising and challenge our experiences and expectations. If an interlocutor expresses doubt that X is true, invite them to reflect on why they find it hard to believe. Invite them to investigate and consider the evidence that supports the claim that X is true. Point them to reliable sources to research when they have the time.