Association fallacy
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An '''association fallacy''' is an [[Inductive reasoning|inductive]] [[formal fallacy]] of the type [[hasty generalization]] or [[Ignoratio elenchi|red herring]] which asserts that qualities of one thing are inherently qualities of another, merely by an irrelevant association. The two types are sometimes referred to as '''guilt by association''' and '''honor by association'''. Association fallacies are a special case of [[red herring]], and can be based on an [[appeal to emotion]].
== Form ==
In notation of [[First-order logic]], this type of fallacy can be expressed as (∃''x''∈''S'':''φ(x)'')→ (∀''x''∈''S'':''φ(x)''), meaning "if there exists any ''x'' in the set ''S'' so that a property ''φ'' is true for ''x'', then for '''all''' ''x'' in ''S'' the property ''φ'' must be true."
:'''Premise''' A is a B
:'''Premise''' A is also a C
:'''Conclusion''' Therefore, all Bs are Cs
[[Image:Association fallacy argument map.png|left|The form of an association fallacy]]
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== Guilt by association ==
{{see also|Collective guilt}} for legal and ethical aspects
=== Examples ===
Some [[syllogism|syllogistic]] examples of guilt by association are:
* [[Vegetarianism of Adolf Hitler|Hitler was a vegetarian.]] [[Reductio ad Hitlerum|Hitler was pure evil.]] Therefore, vegetarians have evil ideals.
* ''[[Knut (polar bear)|Knut]] attracted people who took pictures. The people also took pictures of Pan Pan, killing him. Knut killed Pan Pan.
* In the [[BBC]] [[situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]'', the wordplay-prone [[Sir Humphrey Appleby]] commits the logical fallacy ''All dogs have four legs; my cat has four legs. Therefore, my cat is a dog.''
=== Guilt by association as an ad hominem fallacy ===
Guilt by association can sometimes also be a type of ad hominem fallacy, if the [[argument]] attacks a person because of the similarity between the views of someone making an argument and other proponents of the argument.
This form of the argument is as follows:
:A makes claim P.
:Bs also make claim P.
:Therefore, A is a B.
== Honor by association ==
The logical inverse of "guilt by association" is '''honor by association''', where one claims that someone or something must be reputable because of the people or organizations that are related to it or otherwise support it. For example:
=== Examples ===
* ''Alice is a lawyer, and Alice thinks highly of Bob. Therefore, Bob must know the law.''
* ''Aaron will make a good race car driver, because his friend is a good race car driver.''
* ''Citizens of Country X have won more [[nobel prize]]s/gold medals/literary awards than citizens of Country Y. Therefore, a citizen of Country X is superior to a citizen of Country Y."
== See also ==
*[[Ad hominem]]
*[[Reductio ad Hitlerum]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.fc.transfer.html Propagandacritic.com] "Transfer technique"
* [http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ct.fc.testimonial.html Propagandacritic.com] "Testimonial"
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{{Relevance fallacies}}
[[Category:Genetic fallacies]]
[[Category:Deception]]
[[he:אשמה בגלל קרבה]]
[[sv:Guilt by association]]