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From: lilandbr@scn.org (Leland Bryant Ross)
Subject: Re: definition of inaccurate logical arguments
Message-ID: <E7qHCE.1wC@scn.org>
Sender: news@scn.org
Reply-To: lilandbr@scn.org (Leland Bryant Ross)
Organization: Seattle Community Network
References: <5heko6$4ba@netsrv2.spss.com> <19970327180701.NAA22747@ladder01.news.aol.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 1997 03:21:48 GMT
Lines: 28


In a previous article, markrose@spss.com (Mark Rosenfelder) says:

>
>REHaston <rehaston@aol.com> wrote:
>>I know there are words or phrases for the types of inacurate logic where
>>unrelated events are joined.  [...]
>>One example is where two events happen together, such as ice cream sales
>>and rape.  You could say that eating ice cream makes people commit rape. 
>>Obviously, a third factor, warm weather is the probable cause.
>
>I think the term you're looking for is _post hoc ergo propter hoc_
>(literally "after this, therefore because of this").
>
I *don't* think this is what REHaston was looking for.  I'm not sure what 
the fallacy in the ice cream sales / rape example is called, but it's 
*not* post hoc ergo propter hoc, because REHaston stipulates that the 
sales and the rape "happen together".  Post hoc ergo propter hoc is the 
term for fallaciously equating subsequence and consequence.  If the surge 
in rape happened in June and the ice cream sales peaked in July, post hoc 
ergo propter hoc is what would tell you that ice cream causes rape.  But 
if both peak simultaneously, while the deduction is just as fallacious, 
it's not *the same* fallacy.  Cum hoc ergo propter hoc, potestne esse?
--
Liland Brajant ROS' / Leland B. ROSS - Delegito de UEA  en Seatlo, Usono
204 N 39th St (aux PO Box 30091)        Hejmo de Mikrosofto kaj Boeingo
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