Makai

Now I'm quite a novice at this philosophy business, but when I came across this argument in a book of apologetics my mom is reading (to 'reconvert' me, of course =p), it struck me that this entire argument just seems to be one big fallacy. (The one where you assert something is right because a majority of people believe it, I don't recall the latin name)

It goes as such:

1) Most people believe in some sort of God.
2) It is very probable that most people are right.
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3) Hence, God is very probable

Er?? Am I right in thinking that this argument is a load of crap, or am I missing something? Thanks for any input =)

-Makai

IvanK

That's pretty much it. "Fifty thousand Frenchmen can't be wrong." Here's a demonstration by substitution of the fallacy:

1. Most people who lived during the Dark Ages believed the Earth was flat.
2. It is very probable that most people are right.
----------------
3. Therefore, it is very probably that, during the Dark Ages, the Earth was flat.

The fallacy has to do with the truth value of statement 2 and is called something like argumentum ad populorem. But I'm no Latinist.

tronvillain

No, you're right - it's the <a href="http://www.intrepidsoftware.com/fallacy/pop.htm" target="_blank">argumentum ad populum</a>. Obviously the problem is with premise two, since "most people" can easily be wrong.

diana

1) Most people believe in some sort of God.
2) It is very probable that most people are right.
--------------------------------------------------
3) Hence, God is very probable

What are y'all talking about? This is sound Xn logic!

Yes, P2 is the most overt Appeal to Popularity I've ever seen and so obviously fallacious it makes me want to spit. But I also note that "some sort of God" in P1 has unaccountably become "God" in the conclusion (must be a miracle). P1 is also oversimplified, since most people believe in a god or gods.

And in the strictest sense of the "argument" (even if you let P2 stand as it is), the conclusion should read "Hence, belief in some sort of God is very probable."

Quite conclusive, wouldn't you say?

d

critical thinking made ez

Since this question has been answered quite well already, I add only this...

Having been proven time and time again, I subscribe to the following when referring to issues that are subjective... If the Majority believes something is true, it is most likely False and visa-versa. That has made me a lot of money in business. Hope you can use it too.

[ December 31, 2001: Message edited by: critical thinking made ez ]</p>

diana

If the Majority believes something is true, it is most likely False and visa-versa.

Funny how that works, isn't it? There's a Heinlein quote to that effect: "If 'everybody' knows such-and-such, it isn't true--but at least a 1000 to 1."

That is my rule of thumb, as well. Hasn't failed me yet.

d

sullster

This example would recieve a failing grade in a logic exam. It is not classical logic at all. The second statement,"most people are right", is so absurd in many levels to be laughable. If any xtian feels comforted by such a syllogism then it is proof that education in this country is truly abyssmal. Another reason not to support vouchers for religious schools. No matter how bad the public schools are, at least a piece of drival like that would not get through.

Sephiroth

You are correct in assuming that it's a load of crap. Hell, historically the majority is wrong in most cases.

Wizardry

You haven't been to the public schools lately, have you? Some of the teachers are so poorly educated, they can't pass a 10th grade level test. Spotting such an obvious fallacy might not be against their bias, but I wouldn't put money on the majority's ability to do it.

Peace out.

Scrutinizer

Hi Makai,

The argument is a load of crap, because there have been and are many cases in which the majority has been wrong. I disagree with the majority on many social issues, so I certainly don't buy that argument!

The fact that many many people believe in God indicates that there is some sort of reason behind it. It also indicates that God's existence is probably more likely than the existence of elves, as you don't see many intelligent people believing in elves! But then again, intelligent people have believed stupid things in the past (and continue to do so now!).

Regards,

- Scrutinizer