A severe form of Poisoning the Well where, after identifying a single flaw, mistake, or morally questionable association in an opponent's past, one declares their entire intellectual landscape barren and uninhabitable. No argument they ever present, past or future, can be valid because the ground has been "scorched" by their earlier transgression. It is a totalizing dismissal that seeks to burn down the person's entire credibility permanently.
Example: "You admitted you voted for that corrupt mayor ten years ago? That's it. I'm deploying the scorched earth fallacy on you. Nothing you ever say about politics, economics, or even the weather can be trusted. Your judgment is eternally compromised." One past action is used to justify rejecting all future contributions.
by Dumuabzu February 3, 2026
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