Post hoc ergo propter hoc

From sciforums_encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search

A logical fallacy literally translated as "after this, therefore because of this".

A post hoc ergo propter hoc argument follows the basic format: A preceded B, therefore A caused B.

It assumes A and B are cause and effect purely from the fact that one occurred after the other, and ignores the fact that there may be no causal link.