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Explore the concept of Post Hoc Fallacy, a logical error attributing causation to unrelated events. Learn through examples from "The Crucible" and real-life scenarios. Understand how correlation does not imply causation in critical thinking.
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Post Hoc Perri Collier Myles King
Post Hoc • Event A happened immediately prior to event B. Therefore, A caused B. • Post Hoc also manifests itself as a bias towards jumping to conclusions based upon coincidences. • "Logical Fallacy: Post Hoc." Logical Fallacies: The Fallacy Files. Fallacy Files. Web. n.d. 13 Apr. 2011. "Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc." Cunningham & Cunningham, Inc. CategoryLogic, 27 Feb. 2007. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.
Universal Example of Post Hoc • I had been doing pretty poorly this season. Then my girlfriend gave me this neon laces for my spikes and I won my next three races. Those laces must be good luck...if I keep on wearing them I can't help but win! • "Fallacy: Post Hoc." Fallacy: Post Hoc. The Nizkor Project, 2009. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.
“Giles: Last night-mark this-I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she closed her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly-mark this-I could pray again.” Act 1 Page 186 This is an example of post hoc because the fact that Giles’s wife was reading a book has nothing to due with the fact that he could not say his prayers. A more plausible explanation would be that maybe Giles just forgot his prayers. It even says that sometimes he forgets his prayers in the background information given. Example of Post Hoc in The Crucible
“Abigail: She sends her spirit on me on church; she makes me laugh at prayer.” Act 1 Page 187 This is an example of post hoc because Tituba sending her spirit out on Abigail has nothing to do with her laughing at prayer. Abigail is just laughing at prayer because she just does not want to be there most likely and that is just part of her personality. Example of Post Hoc in The Crucible
“Cheever: ‘Tis hard proof: I find here a poppet Goody Procter keeps.” Act 2 Page 203 This is an example of post hoc because the fact that Elizabeth has a doll in her house does not mean that she is guilty and a witch. It also does not mean that she has done all the things Abigail says she has done. Example of Post Hoc in The Crucible
“Hathorne: …You would faint, saying their spirits came out of their bodies and chocked you-” “Mary Warren: That were pretense, sir.” Act 3 Page 218 This is an example of post hoc because the fact that these girls were fainting has nothing to due with the possibility that these people are witches. However, the court is using this as evidence to convict many people of being witches. Example of Post Hoc in The Crucible