 |
| La Campagna, Italy, trekearth: Added colour |
PIRIE, MADSEN (2006)(2015) How To Win Every Argument, Bloomsbury, London.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
From the Latin, this is translated as 'therefore on the account of this'. (168).
This fallacy assumes that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second event. (168). Even though two events might be consecutive, it should not be assumed that the second event resulted because of the first event, notes Pirie. The second event may have occurred regardless. (168).
My example
Event A
Event B
It is fallacious to assume that because Event B followed Event A, in chronological succession, that Event B is a result of Event A.
Simple succession in time, does not suffice. (169). Cause and effect is assumed. (169).
More evidence would be required to provide reasonable argumentation of cause and effect.
My example
Celebrity A died
Celebrity B died
Celebrity C died
Three celebrities die within three weeks and some assume that the universe or some force is targeting these three celebrities. There is no significant evidence for this assumption. Rather within a Christian worldview, all persons die eventually, and then are judged (eventually, but certainly). Hebrews 9: 27 states that a persons dies and then judgement follows.
Hebrews 9:27-28
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
27 And inasmuch as it is [a]appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
Footnotes: Hebrews 9:27 Lit laid up
The post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy speculates on the consecutive human death of three celebrities, while the Scripture provides documented revelation as religious history in regard to universal human death.
It is an example of speculation versus religious revelation.
From a secular, critical perspective, religious revelation may be viewed as religious literature of human origin alone. Based on biblical scholarship, I disagree and reason Scripture is inspired by God through human authors. However, the Scripture is documented religious history, regardless.
