Appeal to Popularity: Difference between revisions
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** Well, they're French, [[Ad Hominem|of course they would say that]]. |
** Well, they're French, [[Ad Hominem|of course they would say that]]. |
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= Looks like this fallacy but is not = |
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If the investigated subject isn't an objectively measurable thing, but a social concept, that is indeed determined by popularity. For example: |
If the investigated subject isn't an objectively measurable thing, but a social concept, that is indeed determined by popularity. For example: |
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* "Gold is valuable because many people pay for it." |
* "Gold is valuable because many people pay for it." |
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* "Most people would agree that is improper to talk in the cinema during a movie, so don't do it." |
* "Most people would agree that is improper to talk in the cinema during a movie, so don't do it." |
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These concepts, like economical value, linguistic meaning, or etiquette, are things that only exist because a large number of us believe that they exist. If everyone would believe that gold is worthless, [[Worthless Yellow Rocks|its value would disappear]] (this happens at the beginning of the novel ''Galapagos''). |
These concepts, like economical value, linguistic meaning, or etiquette, are things that only exist because a large number of us believe that they exist. If everyone would believe that gold is worthless, [[Worthless Yellow Rocks|its value would disappear]] (this happens at the beginning of the novel ''Galapagos''). |
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* John Doe is President because he got the most votes. Voting was the method for determining presidency according to the Constitution, it |
* Election of an official. John Doe is President because he got the most votes. Voting was the method for determining presidency according to the Constitution, it is no more stupid then most political methods, and has the advantage of getting the greatest number of people possible on board with the new government. That is, not an ideal method of divining desirable qualities in someone, but a moderately foolproof method of resolving disagreements with limited amount of fuss -- in much the same way as duels, or "you win the right to actively participate by investing time and risk" political system from above-quoted ''[[Starship Troopers (novel)]]''. |
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{{reflist}} |
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