2 Answers

A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

http://thenonsequitur.com/?page_id=167

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non_sequitur

Non_sequitur_(logic)

Ads

Are You Writing a Book?
https://www.iUniverse.com
Get a free guide to professional
editing & publishing options.

Brain Training Games
https://www.lumosity.com
Improve memory with scientifically
designed brain exercises.

Official Site
neurohealthcenterstevestockdale.com
Don't Let Inefficient Technology
Undermine You Success

Non sequitur (logic)

Non sequitur ( Latin for "it does not follow."), in formal logic, is an argument where its conclusion does not follow from its premises. In a non sequitur , the conclusion can be either true or false, but the argument is a fallacy because the conclusion does not follow from the premise. All formal fallacies are special cases of non sequitur . The term has special applicability in law, having a formal legal definition. Many types of known non sequitur argument forms have been classified into many different types of logical fallacies.

Non sequitur in normal speech

The term is often used in everyday speech and reasoning to describe a statement in which premise and conclusion are totally unrelated but which is used as if they were. An example might be: "If I buy this cell phone, all people will love me." However, there is no actual relation between buying a cell phone and the love of all people. This kind of reasoning is often used in Advertising to trigger an emotional purchase.

Other examples include:

* "If you buy this car your family will be safer." (While some cars are safer than others, they will most likely decrease instead of increase your family's overall safety.)

* "If you do not buy this type of pet food you are neglecting your dog." (Premise and conclusion are once again unrelated, this is also an example of an appeal to emotion.)

* "Our product is so good, it was even given away in celebrity gift bags." (True, perhaps, but not relevant to the quality of the product)

Fallacy of the undistributed middle

The fallacy of the undistributed middle is a logical fallacy that is committed when the middle term in a categorical syllogism isn't distributed. It is thus a syllogistic fallacy. More specifically it is also a form of non sequitur.