Affirming the Consequent
Affirming the consequent is a logical fallacy confusing the directionality of if-then propositions. Logic is sometimes bi-directional, but it is the exception, not the rule.
- This is related to the fallacy of not recognizing the difference between "all X are Y" and "all Y are X".
- ex. claiming "most terrorists are muslim" is not the same as claiming "most muslims are terrorists"
- Statistical equivalent of confusion of the inverse
- ex. - If most criminals are members of group X, most members of group X must be criminals.
- ex.
- P: If X, then Y.
- C: If Y, then X. or
- P1: If X, then Y.
- P2: Y.
- C: X.