The phenomenon referred to as the "In Polite Society" fallacy describes the subtle ways in which intellectual and academic communities discourage exploration of certain topics, resulting in conformity, self-censorship, and stagnation. This pattern occurs when, under the guise of upholding standards of civility, influential circles set unspoken limits declaring which conversations and questions lie beyond the pale. By imposing these boundaries, the intellectual elite effectively prohibits discourse not on objective, evidence-based criteria, but on grounds of perceived social transgressions. Even hypotheses and theories with empirical validity or logical argumentation struggle to receive fair consideration if they violate tacit norms governing "polite society." Consequently, vital perspectives fail to penetrate the architectures of accepted knowledge, with profound implications not only for intellectual progress, but civic debate and policy issues built atop these compromised foundations.
Theoretical Framework
The mechanisms by which the "In Polite Society" fallacy operates emerge from the intersection of several key concepts and models across sociology, psychology, and the philosophy of science. Groupthink theory in psychology…
