Appeal to Popularity
The appeal to popularity fallacy is the fallacy of arguing that because lots of people believe something it must be true. Popular opinion is not always a good guide to truth; even ideas that are widely accepted can be false.
Example
“Pretty much everyone believes in some kind of higher power, be it God or something else. Therefore atheism is false.”
Links
- Brian Yoder’s Fallacy Zoo - Appeal to Popularity
- Fallacy Files - Bandwagon Fallacy
- Logical Fallacies .Info - Appeal to Popularity
- Michael LaBossiere’s Fallacies Introduction - Appeal to Popularity
- Philosophy.Lander.edu - Ad Populum