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Clearing Out the Blogwebs | Main | Tooltime

May 9, 2003

It's Called An "Ad Populum" Argument, And It's Not Nice

Posted by Mike on May 9, 2003 4:11 PM

I really like The American Prospect's blog, but when they offer up arguments that end with "there's not a truck driver or stockroom clerk in America who doesn't instantly grasp this to be true", I cringe. There are all sorts of things truck drivers, stock room clerks, and assorted other "normal folks" grasp to be true . . . that's why there's a fancy Latin phrase to explain why it's poor reasoning to invoke those beliefs as part of your argument. Not that there's an argument there . . . TAPPED called the guy a scold (I'm not saying I disagree) then got all cornpone on his ass as if that settles something.