The Bandwagon fallacy reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Bandwagon fallacy

The bandwagon fallacy, also known as appeal to the people, authority of the many, argument by consensus, appeal to the gallery, appeal to popularity or argumentum ad populum, is a fallacy where something is 'proven' by stating that many or all people believe it.

For example, one could claim that smoking is a healthy pastime, since millions of people do it. However, knowing the dangers of smoking, we instead say that smoking is not a healthy pastime despite the fact that millions do it.

While the argument may seem convincing when not examined, a simple refutation would lie in pointing out that at a time not too distant in United States history, it was common to hold other people as slaves, which few people today would consider ethical.

The bandwagon fallacy is a pillar of advertising, along with the appeal to authority fallacy.

See also

• Appeal to the majority
• Bandwagon effect
• Two wrongs make a right

External links

• Propaganda critic: Bandwagon appeal

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