Learn something new every day More Info... by email The term ad
populum fallacy is used in logic and debate to describe an
argument that relies on popular opinion. This is considered to
be a weak argument, because it has no evidence to back up its
claims. Ad populum arguments are commonly made in daily life,
particularly by children hoping to conform to their peers. This
concept also is known as an appeal to the masses or a bandwagon
fallacy and is very similar to an ad numerum argument. Other
fallacious arguments are based on fear, misrepresentation or
personal attacks. Much of the terminology of rhetoric and debate
was developed by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle in his
Organon. This work describes 13 types of argumentative
fallacies, or sophistical refutations. The ad populum fallacy is
categorized as a type of material fallacy known as an irrelevant
conclusion. An ad populum argument does not produce real
evidence in support of its thesis, so any conclusions derived
from it must be ruled irrelevan