Post hoc, ergo propter hoc

After it, therefore, because of it - don't simply assume that because one thing follows another, the first thing caused the second thing to happen. A classic scene from the second episode of The West Wing, where Jed Bartlett implies that the reason he lost Texas was because he believed Texans would never elect a president who spoke latin.

• Category

  Education

[UncleMikeNJ]

C.J., you know that line you're not supposed to cross with the President? Look behind you.

I like having a President who can speak Latin. Better yet, I like having a President who can speak English.

[neaseech]

Geroge W. Bush isn't from Texas, he's Texan because he's the governor.

[Tony Lehnsherr]

He was around 2 years old when his father moved the family to West Texas. GWB lived most of his life there. GWB is from Texas, and he is a Texan.

[Tony Lehnsherr]

George W. Bush IS from Texas.

[Xalgucennia]

No, Your premises

Post hoc (After) They lost in Texas

Ergo Propter Hoc (Therefore because) "they lost when they assumed that Texans would not vote for an individual because he understands Latin"

Learn what words mean before you start throwing them around

The entire POINT of the clip was that they would have lost Texas no matter what, NOT because he made a silly joke about a hat OR that he spoke latin

By the way you DO realise that this is fictional don't you?

[Xalgucennia]

Ironic how you just used a post hoc argument in a video about the fallacy of using post hoc arguments

[entropyfu]

Good stuff.

[rocketman544]

Leo's epic look to Josh at 1:10 "What the hell are you looking at?"

[majorkeybaree]

vincit omnia veritas

[DubyaEmDeez]

If we actually taught kids logical fallacies in school, maybe we wouldn't have so many confused people in this country believing radically stupid things. Just maybe.

[solteria14]

Born in New Haven(port), CT. He served in the Texas Air National Guard in the 70's. That should at least make em a Texan.

[moonshadow100]

I would've been much more impressed had your response been in Latin! :P