Bad Reason Fallacy

Bad Reason Fallacy occurs when a conclusion is supported by reasons that do not actually justify it.

The Form

A claim is presented.
A reason is given.
The reason does not logically support the claim.

The presence of a reason does not guarantee that the reason is relevant or sufficient.

A Simple Example

“This must be true because it feels right.”

The statement offers a reason, but not one that supports the conclusion.

Why This Reasoning Fails

The fallacy mistakes having a reason for having a good reason.
Reasons must logically connect to the claim; otherwise, they add no evidential weight.

Where it commonly appears

• Religious and supernatural claims
• Political rhetoric
• Pseudoscience
• Everyday justifications

Example in god claims

“God exists because the universe is beautiful.”

Beauty does not logically imply a divine cause. The reason offered does not establish the conclusion.

How to avoid this fallacy

Ask:

Does this reason actually increase the likelihood of the claim being true?

Related concepts

• Burden of Proof
• Non Sequitur
• Relevance

OpenLogic Reminder

A reason is only useful if it actually supports the conclusion.