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Affirming the consequent

created by artfuldodger

(idea) by artfuldodger (4.7 y) (print)   ?   1 C! I like it! Wed Mar 29 2000 at 16:52:55

If A, then B.
B.
Therefore, A.

Deductively speaking, this is an invalid argument. Wrong. Bad. It is also a commonly asserted deduction in human debate.

Consider:

If this were a good writeup, it would have lots of votes.
This writeup has lots of votes.
Therefore, this is a good writeup.

The problem is that there are other possibilities. If the writeup were written by God, for instance, and it said "Vote for this writeup or you will go to hell."

(Note: This type of argument becomes valid if and only if you use a biconditional if.)

Here's one that's a bit more obvious:

If God exists, then sunsets are beautiful.
Sunsets are beautiful.
Therefore, God exists.


(idea) by anomie (5.9 y) (print)   ?   I like it! Sat May 27 2000 at 20:48:43

A logical fallacy in which, as artfuldodger clearly states, the implication logical operator is abused. The base problem here is that an implication says only that if A is true, then B must be true. If A were false, B could be either true or false.

To prove that the consequent is being affirmed, show that the relation is an implication and the premise corresponds to B. You may do this by showing another possible cause.


printable version
chaos

Denying the Antecedent biconditional if modus morons Critique of Objectivism
logical operators Modus Ponens All cats have nine tails implication
deductive logic Teach Yourself Scheme: 14.4 Logic puzzles Logical fallacy Notes on the history of logic
abelian group inverse finger Imperative Statement
Advocate Consequent René Descartes Dracaena
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