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Argumentum ad populum

Argumentum ad populum

Argumentum ad populum is the formal term for an argument where the validity of the argument is via an appeal to widely held emotions: loyalties, patriotism, prejudices, etc. But such appeals cannot work because the majority of people can be wrong about issues. In other words, just because the majority believe something is right or true, does not make it so.

It is one of many errors or logical fallacies that can be made in argumentation.

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