Appeal to probability: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Type of formal fallacy}}
{{short description|Type of formal fallacy}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2013}}
{{cleanup rewrite|the article is very stub-like. I tried to remove neglects of probability, however, the article should still include more information on the typical usage of the fallacy in real life. Currently, it consists only of the true but unmotivated statement that "possibly" is not the same as "probably" and that "probably" is not the same as "guaranteed"|date=January 2024}}


An '''appeal to probability''' (or '''appeal to possibility''', also known as ''possibiliter ergo probabiliter'', "possibly, therefore probably") is the [[formal fallacy|logical fallacy]] of taking something for granted because it is possibly the case.{{sfn|Bennett}}{{sfn|Carrier|2012}} <!--[[Inductive argument]]s lack deductive validity and must therefore be asserted or denied in the premises.--> The fact that an event is possible does not imply that the event is probable, nor that the event was realized.  
An '''appeal to probability''' (or '''appeal to possibility''', also known as ''possibiliter ergo probabiliter'', "possibly, therefore probably") is the [[formal fallacy|logical fallacy]] of taking something for granted because it is possibly the case.{{sfn|Bennett}}{{sfn|Carrier|2012}} <!--[[Inductive argument]]s lack deductive validity and must therefore be asserted or denied in the premises.--> The fact that an event is possible does not imply that the event is probable, nor that the event was realized.  

Latest revision as of 20:43, 2 June 2025

Template:Short description

An appeal to probability (or appeal to possibility, also known as possibiliter ergo probabiliter, "possibly, therefore probably") is the logical fallacy of taking something for granted because it is possibly the case.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The fact that an event is possible does not imply that the event is probable, nor that the event was realized.

Example

A fallacious appeal to possibility:

If it can happen (premise)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..
It will happen. (invalid conclusion)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Something can go wrong (premise)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..
Therefore, something will go wrong (invalid conclusion)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..
If I do not bring my umbrella (premise)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
It will rain. (invalid conclusion)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"..

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

See also

References

Notes

Template:Reflist

Bibliography

Template:Refbegin

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  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Template:Formal fallacy