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What is the main difference between the "Appeal to Popularity" and the "Appeal to Common Belief?"I understand both fallacies, but they seem very similar and I'm wondering what the biggest difference is.
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| asked on Tuesday, Mar 21, 2017 08:59:24 PM by The Dudeman | |
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Claims are constantly being made, many of which are confusing, ambiguous, too general to be of value, exaggerated, unfalsifiable, and suggest a dichotomy when no such dichotomy exists. Good critical thinking requires a thorough understanding of the claim before attempting to determine its veracity. Good communication requires the ability to make clear, precise, explicit claims, or “strong” claims. The rules of reason in this book provide the framework for obtaining this understanding and ability.
This book / online course is about the the eleven rules of reason for making and evaluating claims. Each covered in detail in the book.
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Not much of a difference when both refer to a belief. But the appeal to popularity is more generic that can be applied to ideas, products, and other non-beliefs. For example,
The new Tickle-Me-Buzz-Lightyear toy cannot stay on the shelves, therefore, it is a great toy! This more accurately is about us reasoning that because a toy sell well (is popular), that it must be good, therefore appeal to popularity is a better fit. However, if we said Parents everywhere believe that the Tickle-Me-Buzz-Lightyear toy is the best toy ever, therefore, it is a great toy! This is would be common belief. Not much of a difference, and it really does not matter that much. Informal fallacy names are just a way to help us identify the problematic reasoning. You can call it "fallacy of stupidity" and it wouldn't really matter, as long as you realized that just because something is popular or common, does not make it good/right/true. |
| answered on Wednesday, Mar 22, 2017 09:01:44 AM by Bo Bennett, PhD |
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