Fallacy of the Day: Ad Populum

Fallacy of the Day

Ad Populum

Open Ended

Explain the purpose of the commercial you just watched.

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• George Carlin

“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”

Ad Populum or Bandwagon

Appeals to popularity or the fact that many people do something as an attempted form of validation.

The flaw in this argument is that the popularity of an idea has absolutely no bearing on its validity.

A Bandwagon Fallacy:

• is also called Ad Populum or and appeal to common belief

• relies on people willingness to believe what is popular without demanding evidence.

What is a bandwagon?

The name "bandwagon fallacy" comes from the phrase "jump on the bandwagon" or "climb on the bandwagon", a bandwagon being a wagon big enough to hold a band of musicians. In past political campaigns, candidates would ride a bandwagon through town, and people would show support for the candidate by climbing aboard the wagon. The phrase has come to refer to joining a cause because of its popularity.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of the Bandwagon or Ad Populum fallacy?

• 90% of Americans believe that we should invade Canada, so clearly, that it the right choice.

• You can't trust her. She has been convicted of a crime.

• You should let me go on this trip because everyone else is going.

• Will said that we should fund health & education, Warren responded saying he was surprised Will hates our country so much that he would leave it defenseless by cutting military spending.

Open Ended

Write your own example of a Bandwagon fallacy.