Have you ever believed something that you thought was true because it was the opinion of a large number of people but later found that it wasn’t? That’s the ad populum fallacy in action. If you would like to know more about ad populum and the difference between the straw man fallacy and red herring, stick around.
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What Is the Meaning of Ad Populum?
You’ll recognize this logical fallacy when someone (or a group of individuals) accepts something is true because it’s the public opinion or many people believe it. But there’s one problem: there’s no sufficient evidence to suggest so.
For example, imagine a kid trying to convince his mom to buy a toy by saying, “All my friends say it’s educational!” But are there studies proving that? Nope. Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s really “educational.”
That’s why this is called a fallacy —popular opinion isn’t an acceptable justification, as scientific evidence could.
Fun Fact: Ad populum is a Latin phrase.
What’s the Difference Between Ad Populum and Other Fallacies?
Unlike other types of fallacy, the ad populum uses the people’s general ideas as proof. But some different types of fallacies don’t depend on it, such as:
- Slippery Slope Fallacy: When someone tells you an action, it will lead to exaggerated consequences without knowing for sure.
- Red Herring Fallacy: This is when someone distracts you from the main idea by bringing up something irrelevant.
- Straw Man Fallacy: Someone who tries to twist another person’s idea to make it easy to attack their opponent’s argument.
Ad Populum Fallacy Example
Here are some ad populum fallacy examples.
- If all teenagers think that album is so cool, I believe them!
- Are you coming to the new cinema opening? All my friends are going, and you should go too.
- My grandmother always cooks it this way, so this must be the only good way!
- You know, real coffee lovers don’t drink decaffeinated coffee!
What Are the Different Types of Ad Populum Fallacy?
Bandwagon fallacy, snob appeal, and appeal to tradition are the three types of ad populum fallacy. Let’s take a look at how each one is different.
Bandwagon Fallacy
This ad populum fallacy type is that people assume that an idea is right only because it has a lot of mass support.
You will also hear it when talking about predetermined thinking (as the bandwagon effect) or propaganda (as the bandwagon appeal).
But how is it different from other fallacies? You could easily recognize it because the bandwagon fallacy became stronger with the trends and then used them as “proof.” So, basically, it depends on a particular moment. But what’s popular today may not be popular tomorrow.
Examples:
- This notebook has gone so viral on TikTok that it has to be amazing.
- If all K-POP singers use this make-up brand, it must be flawless.
- People love this candidate, so he’s going to do great things.
Snob Appeal
Has someone ever persuaded you to get something, claiming that it will make you stand out, be a part of an elite group, or become better than anyone else? That’s the whole premise of snob appeal fallacies. You’ll often come across this fallacy in political speeches, recruitment, and advertising.
Examples:
- Only the most stylish people use this clothing brand. So if you want to stand out, you have to wear it.
- Our line of premium ingredients is only available to a select few chefs because your dishes deserve the best.
- True wine connoisseurs look for the private reserves of at least 10 years ago. If you appreciate fine wine, you should too.
Appeal to Tradition
With the appeal to tradition fallacy, the argument lies on what people have believed for a long time (it has become a part of their tradition).
Examples:
- Grandma Alice used to put that ingredient in the soup, so that’s the only way to taste that good.
- All my friends went to home-school and seemed smarter than other kids.
- We’ve always celebrated our parties this way, so why should we change it now?
How Do You Prevent an Ad Populum Fallacy?
If you want to avoid the Ad Populum Fallacy (and you should), you could ask yourself the following questions after saying or hearing it:
- Is there any real evidence for this?
- Why is it a popular opinion, and who says it?
- Is it a tradition that you should think twice before following?
- Is this opinion based on an emotional idea?
- If I change my perspective, this idea might lose all its meaning.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s true or the best choice. Stay curious, ask questions, and always look for real evidence. That way, you’re making decisions based on facts, not just on what everyone else believes.
