You are likely to find this fallacy in matters of governmental policy
or as positive evidence for a belief. (Usually theistic.) It is always
offered as reason why you should either subscribe to a particular
belief or hold a specific position.
As always, the following analysis is not meant to be complete.
Defined
This
fallacy is committed when the petitioner does not argue on the merits
of a claim, but instead appeals to popular beliefs or values. A
particular piece of legislation is said to be valid if a recent poll
shows favorable support for it. Polls are meant to sample sentiment
over an issue, not that such a belief or legislation is valid.
Examples- A number of industrialized societies have nationalized health care. The United States should follow.
- Since 92% of Americans believe in God, God exists.
Example 1: The merits of nationalized health care should be a policy based on the quality of
health care it can provide over other methods of delivery. Also,
different countries have their respective priorities, to assert that
one country should follow the example also commits the
naturalistic fallacy.
We can test this example by substituting a different policy.
- A number of third-world countries have slavery as part of their economic policy. So should the U.S.A.
Obviously, no one would be convinced by that argument now.
Example 2: Only shows the proclivities of theistic belief among Americans. It does not give positive evidence that such a God exists.
Let's test this example by substituting a different theistic belief.
- 92% of Americans have been touched by the noodlely-appendage of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. FSM does, indeed, exist.
We changed the belief but kept the majority number, and it did not make
the FSM any more real than God. If this example is too out there, just
substitute flat earth for a spherical earth.
In Conclusion Claims
are not true, just because they are believed by a number of others.
Opinions can shift over a claim, or the facts underlying a claim can change
with new information. Claims are only as reliable, not in how
many people believe them, but for what evidence substantiates them.