Argumentum ad Populum

From StoneHome

Definition

1 Definition
2 Examples
- 2.1
- 2.2 Amusing "Common Knowledge"

Literally "Appeal to the Public" and often called Appeal to Common Practice, this is the argument that something is right because this is the way that things are commonly done, or by converse that something is wrong because it goes against the common grain. This is frequently used to shore up shallow moral or ethical positions, or to attempt to justify something without a concrete basis on which to do so beyond habit. This is a very common tactic among traditionalists and supporters of some status quo, and strikes very deep emotional strings regarding conformity and the human desire for herd behavior.

Notably, this isn't always fallacious. Appeals to Common Practice are frequently quite correct when discussing issues which correctly include common practice. This is not a fallacy when discussing issues of segregation or artificially imposed limits, such as the glass ceiling. Moreover, this relies strongly on a certain stance about social ethical mutability, and questions whether certain things really are okay in one culture which are not in another. I will dodge such sticky issues in my examples, and prefer more obvious and less satisfying examples instead, because frankly, Scarlett, I'm lazy, and there are good examples of this fallacy which may avoid such issues of locale.

A very common mistake is to suggest that any observation of the preferences, views or beliefs of the populace is somehow an example of ad populum. Here it's important to remember that simply stating something isn't a fallacy; a fallacy is supporting a conclusion via an invalid mechanism. Therefore, saying "politician X is disliked by 85% of the world" isn't a fallacy, but "politician X is a bad person because he is disliked..." is.

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