Fallacia Ad Populum: In What It Consists and Main Examples

The fallacy ad populum it consists in appealing to the popularity of an argument to conclude that it is true only for this reason, without reviewing its content. It is also known as argumentum ad populum, which in Latin means"argument for people".

It is a kind of logical fallacy that happens when something is considered in terms of true or good, just because it is popular. Certainly, many popular reasonings or notions are true because they belong to the so-called popular wisdom.

However, the validity is not based on its popularity, but on its proven acceptance by the majority over time. The fallacy of popularity is the opposite of appealing to the minority. The argument is based on the fact that most or all people support it.

Although something is very persuasive and, in a way, could be true, it is not always so. It is attractive because it alludes to popular sentiment and the idea of ​​democracy, in which the majority is always right. Sometimes this fallacy is confused with the fallacy ad vericundiam (appeal to authority) and the fallacy bandwagon (effect of fashion).

Examples of this type of fallacious arguments are found daily on television and in the advertising industry. Appeals to the emotions aroused by majorities for the marketing of goods and services. For example:"Have you tried Ace, the unsurpassed clean white that everyone prefers? That waits?".

What is the ad populum fallacy?

This type of arguments belong to the category of informal or non-formal logical fallacies, of the subgenre of the relevant fallacies.

To this subgroup belong also the fallacies ad verecundiam (appeal to authority), ad hominem (against the person) and the bandwagon fallacy.

Some authors link the fallacy ad populum with the fallacy snob appeal, which appeals to the opinion that an elite or a select group of society has on a subject, but does not necessarily represent or have authority.

It is also considered that the bandwagon fallacy is one of its variants, although other authors prefer to treat them separately.

This is one of the fallacies preferred by advertising, which bases many of its contents and slogans on this type of argument for the empathy that they create.

Employment in advertising

The fallacy ad populum is seductive because it manipulates people's desire for belonging, security and seeking consensus. Political leaders use this discursive device to manipulate audiences.

The people most susceptible to being influenced by those insecure people who can be made to feel guilty for not supporting the majority's judgment. It also works in reverse: the desire of people to feel strong belonging to the majority group is manipulated.

For example, the following advertising pieces started from the principle of the majority:

-"Join the People of Pepsi Feel Free"(1970)

-"Join the Pepsi generation"(80's)

-"Sony. Ask anyone". (1970)

The basis of the ad populum fallacy is based on the premise that the majority is almost always right. It is believed that the chances of success of a large number of people is higher compared to a minority or a single individual.

The other psychological element that underlies this type of argument is that people tend to cling to the opinion of the majority to avoid conflict. The pressure of the group or society causes many people to renounce their own opinion to appear"normal".

In politics it is known that there are voters who wait until the last moment to make their decision to vote. They prefer to join the sure candidate: it is the so-called bet to winner.

The problem with this approach is that majorities also tend to make mistakes and make bad decisions. Being the majority does not imply that they have the truth. The distinction that must be made is about the relevance of the premises studied, in order to reach a certain conclusion.

To be in agreement with the so-called public opinion does not necessarily lead to the truth, nor is it a sign of error to contradict the opinion of the majority. In both cases if the person starts from some of these beliefs, he is appealing to this fallacy.

Other names that this fallacy receives

In addition to the appeal to popularity, the ad populum fallacy receives other names:

- Appeal to numbers (argumentum ad numerum).

- Democratic fallacy.

- Appeal to the majority.

- Consensus gentium.

- Appeal to mass opinion.

- Argument by consensus.

- Appeal to popular prejudice or popular wisdom.

- Appeal to the gallery.

- Mafia appeal.

- Common belief.

- Authority of the many.

Legitimate use of the ad populum argument

There are occasions when the use of this resource is legitimate and does not mean in any way a form of manipulation.

Democratic systems make use of the majority to make decisions. In society and groups, consensus or majority opinions are required to approve or disapprove a subject. It is hoped that the qualified opinion of the majority will better guide the decision.

Something similar happens in science. The so-called scientific consensus that is not the same as any majority opinion. The difference in the scientific consensus is that it is based on studies and scientific methods even if it does not gather all the opinions.

In addition, scientific statements are always relative and provisional truths, never definitive: a demonstrable scientific argument replaces another.

That is to say, consensus does not derive from blindly believing in what the authority says, but rather in criteria formed from careful reviews and criticisms of the scientific community.

On the other hand, the scientific consensus does not pretend to be the absolute truth but a contribution to the truth.

Examples of ad populum fallacies

This fallacy has the following form:

"X is popular.

Everything popular is true.

Therefore, X is true."

Example 1

"The gods must exist, because each culture has its own or believes in the existence of a superior being".

According to a strictly logical and objective criterion, there is no scientific evidence to support the argument; just a popular belief.

Example 2

"Support for the death penalty and castration on the part of the majority of our Indonesian citizens indicates that they are morally correct"

A matter as delicate as this can not be dismissed only with the opinion of the majority of a country without taking into account universal human rights. In addition, it would be necessary to review how this kind of legislation was adopted.

Example 3

"You must switch to channel 8, which is the channel with the highest audience this year."

Being the most watched channel does not imply that it is the best channel for a person, without taking into account their tastes, their needs and their culture. Such an approach, apart from deceptive, is very subjective because it starts from a false premise.

Example 4

"The movie Star Wars: the last Jedi It is the best movie of all time. Never another movie had raised as much money as this."

One thing is a blockbuster movie and another thing is that it is better than one or the other, because the classification criteria vary. Here is the question:"Better as to what?"

References

1. Argumentum ad populum. Retrieved on March 11, 2018 from rationalwiki.org
2. Fallacy ad populum. Consulted by skepdic.com
3. Fallacies Falacia ad populum. Viewed from iep.utm.edu
4. Fallacies. Consulted from plato.stanford.edu
5. Types of Logical Fallacies. Consulted of examples.yourdictionary.com