Denying the Antecedent is a mistake people make when talking about logic. It follows this pattern:
To spot this kind of thinking, especially in politics, try these tips:
Look for "If...Then..." Statements: Keep an eye out for phrases that use this structure.
Check for Mistakes: See if someone jumps to a conclusion that something won’t happen just because the first part isn’t true.
Look at the Facts: A study from the National Center for Political Analysis found that about 62% of political comments have logical mistakes. Denying the Antecedent is a common one.
Find Examples: For example, if a politician says, "If we cut taxes, the economy will improve; we aren't cutting taxes, so the economy won’t improve,” that’s an error.
Thinking carefully can help you notice when someone is making these kinds of confusing arguments.
Denying the Antecedent is a mistake people make when talking about logic. It follows this pattern:
To spot this kind of thinking, especially in politics, try these tips:
Look for "If...Then..." Statements: Keep an eye out for phrases that use this structure.
Check for Mistakes: See if someone jumps to a conclusion that something won’t happen just because the first part isn’t true.
Look at the Facts: A study from the National Center for Political Analysis found that about 62% of political comments have logical mistakes. Denying the Antecedent is a common one.
Find Examples: For example, if a politician says, "If we cut taxes, the economy will improve; we aren't cutting taxes, so the economy won’t improve,” that’s an error.
Thinking carefully can help you notice when someone is making these kinds of confusing arguments.