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Appeal to Popularity
(argumentum ad populum)
Definition:
A proposition is held to be true because it is widely held to
be true or is held to be true by some (usually upper crust)
sector of the population. This fallacy is sometimes also called the "Appeal to Emotion"
because emotional appeals often sway the population as a
whole.
Examples:
- If you were beautiful, you could live like this, so buy
Buty-EZ and become beautiful. (Here, the appeal is to the
"beautiful people".)
- Polls suggest that the Liberals will form a majority
government, so you may as well vote for them.
- Everyone knows that the Earth is flat, so why do you
persist in your outlandish claims?
References:
Copi and Cohen: 103, Davis: 62
26 May 1995
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