![]() The “geocentric” model that was once commonly believed was a faith-based observation that was mostly accepted because others claimed it to be true without making their own observations or calculations. Most people believed the earth was the center of the universe until the 16th century, which we now know isn’t true. The ad suggests that you’re already behind the curve because so many people have already switched, which is an appeal to have you “jump on the bandwagon” so to speak. Take a look at this ad for toothpaste as an example: AdvertisingĪdvertising in general often uses the tactic of making something seem popular, therefore making it appealing. There is a lot of debate on whether or not going to college is extremely necessary for most people, but there isn’t much debate about the fact that there are exceptions to this, and there are many people who have become very successful in life without attending college. However, the vast majority of people do not even end up achieving a bachelor’s degree. Our country does spend a disproportionate amount of money on those who attend college than those who choose not to. “Because everyone else goes away to college, it must be the right thing to do.” Ephedra became popular without people paying attention to dosing, which ultimately led to fatalities. Also, diet aids (such as ephedra) have caused a harmful bandwagon fallacy effect. Recent examples of this include specific diets like the gluten free diet, the paleo movement, eating vegan, etc. Caroline’s weight may already be ideal and eating a more well-rounded diet is probably in Caroline’s best interest considering her exercise schedule.įitness and health trends are often examples of the bandwagon fallacy, because things become popular even if they aren’t good for everyone. This may be harmful for Caroline, especially if her coworkers aren’t very knowledgeable about health and fitness and they’re mainly aiming to lose weight. Caroline decides this must be the healthy thing to do so she agrees to do this special diet along with everyone else. Her officemate tells Caroline about their plan and how they’re going to all keep each other accountable, so she should join in. However, all of her friends at work are starting a low-carb diet that consists mostly of protein shakes. Fitness and Health TrendsĬaroline eats a well-rounded diet and exercises on a regular basis. 9 Bandwagon Fallacy Examples to Spot During an Argument 1. Let’s take a look at some examples of bandwagon fallacies so you can get a comprehensive understanding of how to spot them. These terms are often used interchangeably, but in this article, we will stick with the most common name and definition of this fallacy without digging into the slight differences that others may have. The bandwagon fallacy goes by several other names, such as the “argumentum ad populum” (appeal to the people), “authority of the many” and “appeal to popularity”. This fallacy is often used in the following situations: It’s also effective at tricking people who aren’t good at making their own decisions or they’re hesitant to try anything new. ![]() The bandwagon fallacy is especially powerful when the person who is on the receiving end of it wants to be popular or to feel like they are a part of a group. This saying transitioned to the figurative term we use today by the 1890s. The bandwagon fallacy has a snowball effect, meaning as more and more people jump on the wagon, others will continue to do so as well. The idiom that has come from this suggests that people will follow anything if it’s garnered a lot of people’s attention, even if they have no idea what it is or whether or not it’s true. ![]() The bandwagon fallacy has 18th century political beginnings, as musicians would ride on a bandwagon ahead of a crowd when they were going to a political rally, which would gather more and more people because of the excitement. Advertising is especially filled with examples of the bandwagon fallacy because it’s a good way to make potential customers believe they could become part of a larger group who already benefits from using a certain product or service. This faulty method of reasoning is common to come across, whether it’s being used unintentionally or on purpose for someone’s benefit. This logical fallacy is used in arguments to convince others of something when there is no factual argument to use to prove the topic at hand. However, this logic only proves that a belief is common, not that it's accurate. This has a peer pressure component to it, as it argues that if everyone else believes something, you should too. The bandwagon fallacy is based on the assumption that the majority’s opinion is always valid. ![]()
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