 |
| Recent |
This fallacy is a particular irritant and was as well, before I was an academic. But I will attempt objectivity.
Quote
'The argumentum ad populum appeals to popular attitudes instead of presenting relevant material. In other words, it is based on prejudice. It exploits the known propensity of people to accept that which fits in comfortably with their preconceptions. The popular prejudices may or may not be justified, but the speaker who makes his case depend solely upon them is guilty of an ad populum fallacy. Pirie (165).
I am reasoning it should state 'depending'. I do this humbly as I have my share of technical errors, being my own proofreader! I edit when I am aware it is needed.
Further, the author explains that this fallacy can inflame passions and prejudices more appropriate to mass hysteria than to rational discourse. (165).
Those that use this fallacy 'take the easy way out'. (165).
This relates to my philosophical complaint in regard to lazy thinking and cop-out thinking.
Not that any human being has perfect thinking, but at times corrective reasoning should be pursued.
Playing on the emotions of the multitude. (165). Or, trusting in that fallacious type of thinking in regard to personal preferences and convictions, as opposed to researching and asking God for truth, even if that is uncomfortable truth.
Blackburn agrees with Pirie, basically, stating that this fallacy is 'appealing to the prejudices of the people.' (24).
Relevant and obviously non-exhaustive examples:
Significantly accepting the views of a known teacher over a critiques of a less known teacher, because the known teacher is more popular. Not primarily because of the merits of argumentation.
Considering one person in a romantic context over another significantly because it is more socially and culturally acceptable, not mainly based on character and other positive attributes.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
