Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc

Post Hoc fallacies are growing not only in mere number, but actually account for bad laws which are falsely justified by unsound reason. Judgments in courts have been known to be a result of this fallacy sending innocent people to punishment. False judgments have acquitted the guilty.

Literally, Post Hoc means after the fact therefore the cause of the fact. Sometimes this is true. Cause and effect are common in everyday life. However, multiple causation, pure coincidence, and corellation do not always cause the effects they are stated to effect. The arts of magic are based on this fallacy. Advertising, propaganda, rumors, tall tales, gossip, are even more examples of Non Causa, Pro Causa, as some forms of extortion and purgery can be.

However one should take metaphor, similie, syllogism, parable, allegory, etc. with careful thought since they are only models of process or principle, and not real facts.

See:http://www.livescience.com/culture/090525-obama-cheney-claims.html

See: http://www.fallacyfiles.org/posthocf.html

Also: http://www.drury.edu/ess/Logic/Informal/Post_Hoc__Ergo_Propter.html

On logic and truth tables:

http://www.philosophypages.com/lg/e11a.htm


Implication as correllation also remains questionable when concluding cause and effect.

From the U.K. - http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation

Critical reasoning is the only recourse to jumping to conclusions.

In the KJV Bible we find:

Luke (42:)024:011 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they
believed them not.


Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before
honour is humility.

18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and
shame unto him.

18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded
spirit who can bear? 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth
knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

18:16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great
men.

18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his
neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the
mighty.

18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and
their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Luke (Book 42)

42:008:016 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a
vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a
candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

42:008:017 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest;
neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come
abroad.

42:008:018 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him
shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be
taken even that which he seemeth to have.

Verse 18 He is referring to truth as conclusion from valid reason.

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be
wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
wise.

Here's one in terms of Economics. Timely if not incessantly recurring.

http://accounting.suite101.com/article.cfm/three_common_economic_fallacies