Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
🧠Psych - 214/300
Reader,
That subject line sounds robotic, right?
Post hoc ergo propter hoc is an informal fallacy that states: "Since event Y followed event X, event Y must have been caused by event X."
What is it?
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc is a type of logical fallacy that occurs when someone assumes that because one event follows another, the first event must have caused the second event. The fallacy is based on the assumption that correlation always implies causation, which is not always true.
Here's an example of Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc:
"I took a cold shower, and then I got sick the next day. Therefore, the cold shower caused my illness."
In this example, the person assumes that the cold shower caused the illness because the two events occurred in succession. However, there could be other factors that led to the illness, such as exposure to a virus or bacteria, and the cold shower was merely a coincidence.
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What do I need to know?
It's important to recognize the Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc fallacy because it can lead to incorrect assumptions and conclusions.
To avoid making this mistake, it's important to carefully consider the available evidence, look for alternative explanations, and avoid jumping to conclusions based solely on the timing of events.
Remember that correlation does not always imply causation, and that multiple factors may contribute to a particular outcome.