Association fallacy
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An association fallacy is a type of logical fallacy which asserts that qualities of one are inherently qualities of another, merely by 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 are often based in an appeal to emotion.
Guilt by association, also known as the "bad company fallacy" or the "company that you keep fallacy," is the logical fallacy of claiming that something must be false because of the people or organizations that support it. Some examples are:
- Some charities have been fraudulent. Therefore charities must be frauds.
- The Nazis supported eugenics. Nazis are evil. Therefore eugenics must be evil.
- Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian. Adolf Hitler was evil. Therefore vegetarianism must be evil.
- Most communist states have enforced state atheism. Therefore all atheists are communist.
- Clinton was a Democrat. Clinton was unfaithful to his spouse. Therefore all Democrats are unfaithful to their spouses.
- Osama bin Laden is opposed to the invasion of Iraq. Osama bin Laden is a terrorist. Therefore anyone opposed to the invasion of Iraq must be a terrorist.
- George W. Bush supports the invasion of Iraq. George W. Bush is a Republican. Therefore all supporters of the invasion of Iraq are Republicans.
- The Ku Klux Klan supports this initiative. The Ku Klux Klan is wrong on other issues. Therefore the public must vote against this initiative.<ref>From the South Park episode Chef Goes Nanners</ref>
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:
- 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.
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[edit] External links
- Propagandacritic.com "Transfer technique"
- Propagandacritic.com "Testimonial"he:אשמה בגלל קרבה
