Appeal to Popularity
Many believers do not make a claim true.
What it is
An appeal to popularity says a claim is true because many people believe it. Crowds can be wrong.
The number of believers is not evidence about the claim itself. On the LSAT this often appears as poll results or 'most people agree' standing in for a reason.
An LSAT-style example
This example is original. It is not a real LSAT question.
Most drivers believe the new highway will cut commute times. So the highway will cut commute times.
The flaw: Driver opinion is not a traffic study. Popularity does not change whether the highway will work.
How to spot it on test day
- Watch for 'most people,' 'everyone knows,' 'widely believed.'
- Ask: is this belief backed by evidence, or is the belief itself the only evidence?
- A vote does not settle a question of fact.
The right answer vs. the trap
The right answer
The correct answer says the argument treats popular belief as proof.
The trap
The trap may praise the poll’s sample size. A perfectly conducted poll still measures opinion, not truth.
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