Appeal to probability

An appeal to probability (or appeal to possibility) is the logical fallacy of taking something for granted because it would probably be the case (or might possibly be the case).[1] Inductive arguments lack deductive validity and must therefore be asserted or denied in the premises.

Example

A fallacious appeal to possibility:

Something can go wrong (premise).
Therefore, something will go wrong (invalid conclusion).
If I do not bring my umbrella (premise)
It will rain. (invalid conclusion).

Murphy's law is a (typically deliberate, tongue-in-cheek) invocation of the fallacy.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Bennett.

Bibliography

  • Bennett, Bo, "Appeal to possibility", Logically Fallacious, retrieved 18 April 2017
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